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Moscow is appealing to American patriots, while Washington is seeking tips from disgruntled military researchers
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is reaching out to CIA officers who want to jointly resolve the Ukraine conflict. The video ad appealing to American patriots appears to be a response to a similar call to Russian military engineers released by the US spy agency last month.
The video titled ‘Your Option: Together for the Truth’ and released by the SVR on Thursday evokes the camaraderie shared by the US and the USSR during World War II. It warns that contemporary Ukraine is tainted by Nazi influences and rampant corruption – a message designed to resonate with American ideals. The narrator says: “Honor does matter. Be worthy of our grandfathers. Raise their flag high,” as a veteran CIA officer decides to contact the Russians.
Conversely, the CIA’s video aims to exploit perceived fractures within Russian society. Featuring a disgruntled military engineer, it labels Defense Ministry officials as “wolves from the capital” who feign concern for the nation while imposing “increasingly unreasonable demands.” The protagonist laments that his country “has ceased to be part of the world community,” justifying his choice to seek the “truth” by contacting the CIA.
The SVR was apparently unimpressed with its production quality, and criticized the ad for relying on “outdated Hollywood tropes” about life in Russia and its global position.
The CIA previously produced multiple videos, some appealing to potential recruits among America’s ethnic minorities and others to disillusioned Russians. The Kremlin has downplayed the efforts. Last year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that intelligence agencies routinely promote their agendas online, and questioned the CIA’s decision to use X – a platform restricted in Russia – for outreach.
The agency is reportedly facing a shakeup under the administration of President Donald Trump. He has already targeted the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which projects American influence through billions of dollars in grants for various projects. Critics have argued that it is effectively an extension of the US intelligence community, a notion that some officials have seemed to concede.
“USAID chases China all around the world making sure that China doesn’t monopolize contracts for critical minerals and port infrastructure all around the world. It supports freedom fighters everywhere in this world,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy declared in a speech defending the agency on Tuesday.
