Russian Men Detail Alleged Sabotage Operations for Ukraine

Two Russian men, identified by pseudonyms, have provided accounts of alleged operations targeting military assets and personnel within Russia, asserting they are working with Ukraine's intelligence services. One man, referred to as Ivan, claims to have participated in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories on Russian soil. The other, Foma, an exile living in Poland, states he manages a network of volunteers inside Russia who surveil high-level officers for potential targeting by Ukraine's military intelligence agency, the GUR.

The GUR has confirmed that Ivan and Foma are working for the agency, though they acknowledge limitations in verifying all information. Details of the specific activities described by Ivan and Foma remain impossible to independently confirm, and both the agency and the men are cautious about sharing granular information. The tactics they describe align with Ukraine's acknowledged strategy of coordinated drone attacks on what it designates as legitimate targets within Russia, often utilizing secret agents.

Ivan stated his work involved surveilling military sites and preparing locations for drone components. He claims his objective is to hasten the potential fall of President Vladimir Putin's regime by impacting the war's outcome. He described preparing formidable weapons from drone components capable of destroying high-value targets. Ivan also shared a video he claims shows him hiding explosives near a Russian military airfield, acknowledging the severe risks of being caught and charged with terrorism.

Foma's role is described as remote, involving online training for his volunteers in Russia on surveillance techniques. He reportedly guides them on how to track senior military officials, providing detailed information including their data, vehicles, and movements. Foma asserts he leverages his past position within the Russian elite to maintain contacts and receive insider information. He demonstrated mapping military targets, including storage warehouses, military units, and residences of generals and bomber pilots, stating the aim is to identify and exploit the system's weak points. He mentioned his network consists of approximately three dozen people across Russia, Ukraine, and Europe, with international members providing logistical support and tracking digital footprints.

Foma emphasized that while the GUR suggests targets, his team verifies that these individuals are considered military criminals before proceeding. He expressed a desire for those committing acts on behalf of Putin's Russia in Ukraine to understand they will face consequences and to live in fear. Foma insisted his network only passes intelligence to the Ukrainians and does not carry out assassinations themselves. He claimed tracking Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, assassinated in Moscow in December 2025, was difficult due to his constantly changing schedule.

Foma believes Ivan may have been involved in a plan to strike Russia's largest military drone factory at Yelabuga in June of the previous year, an incident reported to have caused one fatality. Ivan maintained that the operations aim to avoid civilian casualties. He recounted a close call when his car was stopped for inspection with handmade explosives, from which he was not detected.

To mitigate risks of compromise, Ivan stated there is no clear structure to their work and he has never met or knows the identities of his collaborators. Foma enforces similar rules for his operatives, believing group formations and online communications increase the likelihood of detection and destruction. Ivan noted a scarcity of suitable individuals for this work within Russia, with many ideological opponents having either left or been imprisoned. He suggested many saboteurs in Russia are either unaware of their involvement or are paid actors. Ivan, however, claims to act for ideological reasons as a former political opposition member, despite the expected surveillance from Russian authorities. He described undergoing lie detector tests in third countries when meeting GUR agents.

Foma suggested that Ivan's ability to travel freely might be due to loopholes in the country's governance or luck. He argued that if Ivan were also spying for Russian intelligence, he would likely have shared information about Ukrainian attack plans. Ivan had previously informed the journalist about a significant attack on strategic bombers on Russian military airfields, though without specific details on timing or location.

Ivan described living with constant fear, stating, "Fear is always present. It follows me everywhere. Even if you don't do anything, you're still afraid. This is Russia." He expressed optimism for future change, stating, "Putin won't live forever."