(In)visible hand
Russia's intelligence services in action abroad
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Russia’s intelligence services are more than intelligence agencies that gather information. They are executive organs. Their mission is to disrupt, distract, and demoralize. They act in concert on behalf of the state leadership and at the same time compete for the president’s favour. They execute his orders, but also strive to influence his world view. Their increasingly ruthless actions since 2014 anticipated Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
(Osteuropa 11/2022, pp. 71–78)