(From Top World Intelligence Agencies)
GRU’s stated mission is to supply military intelligence to the Russian president and government. Additional missions include ensuring Russia’s military, economic and technological security.
GRU in the news:
- DNC Alleges Russia’s GRU Tried To Hack the Party After 2018 Election (01/24/2019)
- Russian Spy Chief Dies: Hacked the 2016 Election and Bungled an Assassination Plot (11/24/2018)
- How Bellingcat and Russia Insider Unmasked a Suspected Assassin (10/10/2018)
Unlike Russia’s other intelligence services, FSB and SVR, the GRU is not a ministerial organization. The GRU reports to the chief of the general staff and the defense minister.
GRU has allegedly orchestrated the assassination of enemies of the Russian state abroad. British officials says two GRU officers attempted to murder GRU defector Sergei Skripal in the March 2018 with a chemical agent. Russia denies any involvement
The GRU is also known for its cyber operations. U.S. intelligence sources say the GRU sponsors, or otherwise controls, a hacking collective known as Fancy Bear. According to U.S. intelligence community, Fancy Bear hacked the Democratic National Committee email system during the 2016 presidential election in order to help Donald Trump’s candidacy. “Only Russia’s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities,” the U.S. intelligence community concluded. Russia rejects the charge.
GRU chief Igor Koborov died in November 2018.
- How Russia’s global hacking operation unravelled (Wired)
- GRU: Obscure Part of Russian Intelligence (Journal of Defense Management, 2012)
- Comments/Corrections/Leaks About GRU
Return to Top World Intelligence Agencies.
