Russia’s SVR: A Mission History

The provided text offers a comprehensive overview of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), tracing its evolution from the Soviet KGB's First Chief Directorate into a formidable modern intelligence agency. It details the SVR's historical trajectory, including its struggles in the 1990s, its resurgence under Vladimir Putin, and its current role as a hybrid threat employing both traditional human intelligence (HUMINT) and advanced cyber warfare. The text highlights key operational doctrines, such as strategic patience and stealth, and examines the SVR's involvement in major espionage cases, sophisticated cyberattacks like SolarWinds, and extensive disinformation campaigns like "Doppelgänger." Finally, it analyzes the SVR's activities in Europe, its failures and adaptations regarding the war in Ukraine, and its competitive yet collaborative relationship within the broader Russian intelligence community.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.