Russian Intelligence in Turmoil as Spies Turn on Each Other Over Corruption and Power Abuse

In the context of fierce competition among Russian spies who were left without work after the mass expulsion of diplomats, reports began to emerge accusing more successful colleagues.

According to The Insider on January 21, this occurred after more than 700 Russian diplomats were declared persona non grata, most of whom were career spies. Due to the lack of available positions in other countries or state corporations, many of them were unable to find new employment.

These anonymous reports, sent to the head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin and to the presidential administration, reveal the scale of internal conflicts and corruption schemes among Russian spies. One such letter mentions the Deputy Head of the SVR's Illegal Intelligence Division, Herman Bykov, who is accused of using his position for personal revenge against subordinates and sending them on foreign assignments for his own benefit.

One of the major scandals involved the publication of videos by Ukrainian intelligence in the spring of 2025, which showed hidden cameras installed around the SVR headquarters in Yasenevo and the SVR Academy in Mytishchi. These videos, which were obtained by the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), not only captured the vehicles of SVR officers but also revealed internal documents and anonymous correspondence that exposed corruption practices within the SVR. One of the letters noted that Bykov was using his position for personal gain, sending colleagues on foreign trips, benefiting from their personal travels.

Another anonymous report speaks about SVR Captain Sergey Zaytsev, who allegedly accepts bribes from Rosgvardiya  employees in exchange for promises to secure them positions in the elite “Zaslon” unit. Zaytsev is also accused of illegally receiving additional pay for a title he doesn't hold. Despite an internal investigation into these allegations, no violations were found, and Bykov maintained that he “serves honestly.”

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It has also recently come to light that the SVR entered into government contracts with problematic construction companies, one of which was “Kapital-Stroy 2000.” During the construction of a sports and recreation complex on SVR territory, a canopy collapsed, nearly leading to a tragedy. Despite this, the criminal case was swiftly closed.

Earlier, it was reported that German authorities detained a woman with both Ukrainian and German citizenship on charges of spying for Russia.

The arrest occurred in Berlin, where the woman is accused of gathering sensitive information about Ukraine, including details related to Germany's defense industry and drone manufacturing. The suspect is believed to have been in contact with a Russian intelligence officer stationed at the Russian Embassy in Berlin since at least November 2023. Prosecutors claim she helped this officer attend political events using false identities in order to make connections beneficial to Russian intelligence.

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