Unmasking Russian Intelligence: The GRU's Lethal Assassination Tactics Abroad

 

The assassination of Litvinenko in London in 2006 was another high-profile case linked to Russian intelligence. Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, leading to his death three weeks later.

     In recent years, the Russian intelligence agencies GRU (Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) and FSB (Federal Security Service) have intensified their assassinations outside of Russia. These covert operations often involve the use of toxic substances to poison and kill targeted individuals.

     While some of these assassinations have received significant media attention, many others have gone unnoticed or unreported. I’d like to shed more light on these murderous actions by Russian intelligence outside of Russia, their motives, tactics, and the broader impact of their activities.

     One of the most infamous instances was the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England in 2018. The GRU used the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok to carry out the attack. Additionally, other notable cases include the poisoning of Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev in 2015 and the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

     The poisoning of Gebrev exemplifies the GRU's readiness to carry out assassinations beyond Russia's borders. Gebrev, his son, and a manager of his company were all poisoned with a lethal nerve agent. Although they survived the initial poisoning, Gebrev was poisoned again two weeks later, falling into a coma and requiring critical hospitalization. The identification of the poison as a member of the same nerve agent family used in the Skripal poisoning further highlighted the GRU's involvement.

     The assassination of Litvinenko in London in 2006 was another high-profile case linked to Russian intelligence. Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, leading to his death three weeks later.

     Investigations revealed that the poison had been administered by two Russian agents, one of whom was a former KGB officer, and that the assassination had been approved at the highest levels of the Russian government. The incident strained UK-Russia diplomatic relations, resulting in the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the UK.

     Shortly after the Litvinenko poisoning, an event unfolded that blew my mind away...the shooting of Paul Joyal in 2007. It was a high-profile incident that garnered attention due to its potential connection to Russian intelligence. Paul Joyal, a former U.S. government security analyst and a prominent critic of the Russian government, was attacked outside his home in Maryland.

     On March 1, 2007, he returned home when an assailant approached him, shot him, and left him critically wounded. The attack occurred shortly after Joyal had appeared on a television program discussing the murder of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko! Joyal had expressed concerns about the involvement of Russian intelligence in Litvinenko's assassination.

     The shooting raised the eyebrows of U.S. intelligence. I’m sure many CIA analysts and operative believe there is a direct connection to Russian intelligence due to the timing of the shooting and Joyal's outspoken views on Russia. For years, he voiced concerns about the tactics and activities of Russian intelligence. Joyal had also published an opinion piece in The Washington Post in which he criticized the Russian government's handling of the Litvinenko case.

     When I read the report of the investigation into the shooting and that it did not establish a direct link to Russian intelligence, one intelligent thought arose in my mind...BS! Anyhow, no arrests were made, the assailant's identity and motive remain unknown, and the case remains unsolved.

     There is another probable Russian intelligence murder on American soil that also leaves me in awe...the death of Mikhail Lesin. He was a former Russian government official and media executive who was found dead in a hotel room in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 2015. And, once again, U.S. intelligence suspects foul play by Russian intelligence.

     Mikhail Lesin was a prominent figure in Russian media and politics. He created the state-owned media conglomerate Gazprom-Media and served as the Minister of Press, Television, and Radio Broadcasting in the Russian government from 1999 to 2004. He was known for his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

     Hmm...close ties to Vladimir Putin...then why suspect his death was none other than a natural one? Let me explain. Initially, Lesin's death was reported as a result of natural causes, specifically blunt force injuries to his head sustained during falls while heavily intoxicated. The official cause of death was determined to be "blunt force injuries to the head," and the manner of death was ruled as an "accident" by the U.S. authorities.

     However, over time, doubts and speculation emerged about the official narrative. Questions were raised about the plausibility of Lesin sustaining the injuries from falls, considering the severity of the trauma. The presence of other injuries, including to his neck, led some to believe that foul play might have been involved.

     In 2016, the District of Columbia Medical Examiner's Office released a revised report stating that Lesin's death was caused by "blunt force injuries of the head" and classified the manner of death as "undetermined." Quite a change in the official ruling of his death!

     Hang on, the story isn’t over. U.S. intelligence, all along, was suspicious of Russian intelligence involvement because of Lesin's connections to the Russian government and his potential knowledge of sensitive information. In other words, he may have been targeted for his role in Russian media control and his knowledge of the inner workings of the Russian government. He knew too much!

     In fact, the Lesin case reminds me of the classic spy movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much". The movie shares a thematic connection with the death of Mikhail Lesin, as both involve individuals who possessed significant knowledge about the inner workings of intelligence agencies and found themselves caught up in dangerous circumstances.

     Just as Dr. Benjamin McKenna and his wife in the film become unwittingly entangled in an international assassination plot, Mikhail Lesin, a former high-ranking Russian government official and media mogul, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in Washington, D.C. Lesin's death raised questions and speculation due to his extensive knowledge of Russian intelligence and the inner workings of the government.

     It seems there are inherent risks for those who possess sensitive information. The Lesin case and this classic spy movie both remind us of the perils for those who have knowledge that threatens powerful interests, and highlight the risks involved in uncovering or possessing classified information.

     I'm sure many professionals in U.S. intelligence are rolling their eyes as they read the mainstream news reports stating, "No concrete evidence linking Russian intelligence to Lesin's death has been publicly presented. The case remains officially classified as undetermined, and the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain uncertain." I believe many individuals in U.S. intelligence have their own interpretations regarding the nature of his demise; they see the fingerprints of Russian GRU spies all over it.

     These actions by Russian intelligence are a threat to global security, for they are a blatant disregard for international law and the sovereignty of other nations. Conducting assassinations on foreign soil without regard for local laws sets a dangerous precedent that threatens all of us: the use of toxic substances poses a unique threat to public health and safety for both targets and innocent bystanders.

     Raising public awareness of these brutal actions is vital for several reasons. Firstly, it helps individuals and governments understand the risks to national security, diplomatic relations, human rights, and public health. Secondly, awareness allows for proactive measures to prevent future attacks. Finally, it emphasizes the need for global cooperation to condemn and hold accountable those responsible for state-sponsored assassinations.

     The spy thriller MISSION OF VENGEANCE serves as a fictional portrayal of the danger posed by Russian intelligence. It follows CIA spymaster Corey Pearson, who is tasked with hunting down Russian GRU Spetsnaz assassins responsible for killing an American family in the Dominican Republic. The plot sheds light on the activities of Russian intelligence agencies outside of Russia and their potential consequences.

     The homicidal actions of Russian intelligence outside of Russia, particularly the GRU and the FSB, have far-reaching implications for global security, international relations, human rights, and public health. To address these threats, governments and the international community must work together. Cooperation and information sharing can help prevent future attacks, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that state-sponsored assassinations do not go unpunished. By staying informed and vigilant, individuals can take measures to protect themselves and their communities.

     Although MISSION OF VENGEANCE is a work of fiction, it highlights the potential consequences for those caught in the crosshairs of Russia’s state-sponsored assassinations. The blatant use of toxic substances in assassinations is totally unacceptable. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series.