In brief
Inside Russia, two men working for Kyiv’s military intelligence claim to have orchestrated sabotage and drone strikes against strategic military targets. One, operating from within Russia, reportedly coordinated attacks that led to the killing of a senior general and the disruption of a major drone factory. The other, based in Poland, runs a covert network that surveils Russian officers and supplies information to Ukrainian forces, insisting the team does not carry out attacks themselves. While the Kremlin denies their existence, Ukraine acknowledges these operations as part of a broader drone strategy aimed at crippling Russian war infrastructure.
Two men now living in exile claim they have been quietly meddling in Russia’s war effort from inside the country.
One of the men, known as Ivan, says he has co‑ordinated Ukrainian drone attacks that targeted strategic bombers and munitions factories on Russian soil. He also claims his intel was used to spot and strike a senior general who was later killed in December 2025.
The other, called Foma, operates out of Poland and runs a covert network of volunteers. He says the group gathers surveillance on Russian officers, maps out vessels and buildings, and then forwards the data to Kyiv’s military intelligence without ever taking part in the attacks themselves.
Ukrainian authorities have acknowledged that both Ivan and Foma work for the General Intelligence Directorate. Yet they refuse to confirm the full scope of the men’s activities, citing security constraints.
According to Foma, the network numbers between 300 and 500 operatives spread across Russia, Ukraine and other European countries. To protect anonymity, the team never meets face‑to‑face and operates under strict compartmentalisation.
Ivan explains how he and his handlers conduct trust exercises in neutral third countries. He reports speaking in coded language to Ukrainian agents and revealing upcoming strike plans for strategic bombers, though he keeps the exact dates and coordinates vague.
Despite the risk, Ivan recounts one occasion when he was stopped by security officers, yet managed to conceal a homemade explosive device concealed in his vehicle. He says the incident was narrowly avoided thanks to strict operational secrecy.
Foma provides volunteers with “step‑by‑step” tutorials on how to trail high‑level officers, mapping out their routines, locations and digital footprints. He stresses that his operations serve purely intelligence-gathering purposes, not direct assassinations.
Both men insist that their goal is to undermine President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Ivan believes the war’s outcome could be decisive for the future of the Kremlin, while Foma sees every successful strike as a blow to the regime’s legitimacy.
For further details, listen to BBC Sounds’ documentary “Shadowmen: Russians working with Ukraine,” or stream the full episode on iPlayer.
