Two Russians describe secret sabotage work for Ukraine inside Russia
Two Russian men secretly working for Ukraine's GUR, the country's intelligence agency, have given accounts of operations targeting military assets and personnel inside Russia, according to reporting published by the BBC on 19 October.
The accounts appear in a BBC World Service documentary by independent Polish journalist Marcin Mamon. The BBC identified the two men only as Ivan and Foma. Ukraine's GUR confirmed to the BBC that both men are working for the agency.
Ivan said he operated from inside Russia. He claims he played a role in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories.
He told the BBC his work involved watching military sites and finding places to hide drone components ahead of attacks on Russian assets. The BBC did not publish further details of his location or current circumstances.
Foma lives in exile in Poland. He told the BBC he runs a network of undercover volunteers in Russia that watches senior officers the GUR is considering targeting.
Foma said his volunteers are never involved in attacks themselves. He said he provided Ukrainians with intelligence on Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov, who was assassinated in Moscow in December last year.
Foma estimated that about 300-500 Russians are doing sabotage work for Ukraine. When the BBC asked Ivan's GUR handler whether Ivan could be trusted, the handler replied: "I'm not sure of anyone, except myself."
