Putin’s spy network exposed: how covert Russian operations were uncovered across Europe

“We wanted to look from 2022, from that moment of deep crisis and failure, to the present day when it appears that spying activities have gone into overdrive.”
European security agencies have been uncovering Putin's spy operations across Europe, as the Kremlin scrambles for influence after Russia’s ill-fated Ukraine invasion, says The Times’s contributors all over Europe.
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[@davidunwin7868]

Australia has just charged two Russian-born Australians for espionage...

[@stanadams5541]

Two Russians charged in Australia for spying.Two ex Russians poisoned in a park in England a couple of years back Putins network spans the world it seems ?

[@wolfgangemmerich7552]

Russia collecting western hostages for its own spy Exchange .

[@Jessica-kk1cz]

Just two? Keep looking. Cheers from the US.

[@stanadams5541]

@Jessica-kk1cz lol we know 🤣

[@grimmertwin2148]

How'd they do that? They generally have trouble finding delete, control, enter. Or is it enter control delete? Better get some Chinese I T experts in. ( Born in Australia of course) 😂 With me?

[@user-oi4tj4pp8q]

Every Russian and Belarussian is a suspect that's why I have kept saying since 2022 No one should be allowed to travel into Europe from Russia also via third countries, nor should they be allowed to leave Europe

[@STHFGDBY]

I posted comments years ago, and since then, before the war started regarding Putin when people were commenting on how great he was, how people were saying "Don't poke the bear " and all that BS. I always responded with " That man is evil and he's not to be trusted, and that he was going to start a war some day. I never guessed it would have been against Ukraine, but nevertheless I was 100 % right. I ofter wonder where those western AHs are today who glorified that evil pos Putin.

[@franceyneireland1633]

I would like to add the US and Canada plus other countries not of NATO (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea) who send weapons to Ukraine, Russians should also not be allowed to enter via third countries.

[@GuardDog42]

Agreed

[@jimgraham6722]

Agree generally but part.of Putin's stock in trade is assassinating domestic opponents. While there is a risk of infiltration, there are also ruzz with known opposition to the Putin regime. Some of these are contributing significantly to the Ukrainian cause. Their lives are now at risk from the FSB assassination squads. Subject to monitoring they should be offered temporary protection in the west.

[@killingmasheen]

There just needs to be better supervision of these people. If you've immigrated to a new country for the right reasons it shouldn't be an issue meeting with immigration officials to check up with you on occasion. Russians up to no good will often claim they're being targeted unfairly and wrap themselves in the rights of full citizens of despite having broken every law lying their way into that country. Russians care nothing for the rule of law so we shouldn't be treating them as if they do.

[@Light-Machine-Gun]

I wonder why there is not any Russian activity in Hungary... mmm I want to guess... they are already there. Many thanks to Times Radio for the Italians insight.

[@pinkfloyd870]

They are in Hungary... they are in power.

[@axlslak]

Who said there isn't? its different when you play attack vs when you play defense. In Washington, and London and Berlin and Paris .. you play attack. In Moskow, Benjing, Pyongyang, Damascus you play defense. Ohhh and Budapest. All about keeping your friend in power.

[@user-dg7ec4xg2j]

This is owned by Rupert Murdoch... How come he doesn't cover this in the USA too? Very enraging.

[@Jason-do9vp]

Orban like trump is a Putin supporter

[@catpowerro1110]

Hungary is a russian enclave, same Serbia.

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

Moscow horde´s war record :- 1856 defeated by Britain and France 1905 defeated by Japan 1917 defeated by Germany 1920 defeated by Poland, Finland, Estonia and all Baltic states 1939 defeated by Finland 1969 defeated by China 1989 defeated by Afghanistan 1989 defeated in the Cold War. 1996 defeated by Chechnya 2022 defeated by Ukraine WW2 won USA/Britain , meanwhile Stalin's officers were shot or sent to the Gulags. Millions went to the Gulags, including Solzhenitsyn Moscow's only victories come from invading smaller countries :- a) Hungary 1956 b) Czechoslovakia 1968 c) Moldova 1992 d) Georgia 2008

[@RickMentore]

Russia took over a few small countries, however dont understand why they keep boosting about their glorious military history!

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

@@RickMentore Mосковская орда должна распасться т к смысла в ее существовании нет. Нынешняя элита Неспосoбна на Реформы, общество неспособно на революцию, поэтому будет продолжаться гниение, которое закончится распадом, т к и затяжное гниение тоже всех утомит. Сегодня московская орда занимает первое место в мире: ■ по уровню умышленных убийств; ■ по числу курящих детей и подростков; ■ по числу взяток при поступлении в вyзы; ■ по темпам роста табакокурения; ■ по аварийности на дорогах; ■ по смертности от самоубийств среди подростков 15-19 лет; ■ по абсолютной величине убыли населения; ■ по количеству самоубийств среди пожилых людей; ■ по числу разводов и количеству детей, рожденных вне брака; ■ по числу детей, брошенных родителями; ■ по смертности от заболеваний сердечно-сосудистой системы; ■ по числу пациентов с заболеваниями психики; ■ по объемам торговли людьми; ■ по количеству абортов и материнской смертности; ■ по объёму потребления героина; ■ по потреблению спирта и спиртосодержащей продукции; ■ по продажам крепкого алкоголя; ■ по темпам прироста ВИЧ-инфицированных; ■ по количеству авиакатастроф (в 13 раз больше среднемирового уровня); ■ по числу миллиардеров, преследуемых правоохранительными органами; With cost of “black gold” at 15-23 dollars per barrel, the USSR economy collapsed, and the sovok itself collapsed, and the "golden" horde ("russia") budget can only be fulfilled only with oil price at $ 42.4 and higher

[@wetrock2766]

​@@hybridarmyoffreeworldThe whole country is covered in abandoned villages, industrial buildings and fallow agricultural land.

[@rodneyfungus8249]

@hybridarmy A quick google search would show that there have been many wars won by Russia - why the selective list? The Great Northern war and the Russo Turkish war of 1877-78 are two obvious examples of Russian wins. Ridiculous not to include ww2 as a Russian victory.

[@Jamestruman430]

Why is everyone so afraid of them😂you just proved you ate that propaganda up. Keep it up you’re making it worse for yourself

[@tomaszcodasz]

I don't understand why ambassadors were not expelled from EU already. Like everyone is pretending there is no war

[@joso7228]

proxy war

[@vodkaman1970]

I think there's a whole lot of I know that they know that I know that they know... and that it's sometimes better to keep your enemies close.

[@nunyadayumbusiness591]

The closing of embassies and the expulsion of ambassadors closes all your diplomatic channels, normally this is only done by the countries actually at war. (And is considered a "soft declaration of war") Besides, when you find a spy, you don't expell him - he'll just be replaced with a spy you don't know about. Instead, you feed him false (but believable) information and surveil him to find the other spies in his circle.

[@ThomasM.Tammany]

😢🎉😊😊😊😊😊

[@JaneSoole]

Nor me. Have our security services become lax? If so, why?

[@cweatherfella547]

2 spies both Russian born but Australian citizens have just been caught in Australia & Charged TODAY The woman is a private in Australian army

[@ericdane7769]

Russia is like a teenager: crossing all boundaries and rules, flipping the bird to half the planet, and then crying that they're the victim.

[@warpeace8891]

How old are you? This is not a joke. At least one million are already casualties of Russian aggression since February 2022 with their whole economy geared up for endless war. This is already WW3. Ukraine is the fourth country invaded and there is at least a dozen more who have been attacked.

[@yeetah42025]

Reminds me of China. Lol

[@MyWalk3296]

So true

[@jessehachey2732]

@@yeetah42025Reminds me of DJT. Wait no, a toddler is more apt! But the boundaries and crying victim, certainly!

[@yeetah42025]

@@jessehachey2732 Yeah, Trump, Putin and Xi Jin Ping.. They have similarities. lol

[@benyamin1059]

How come the Russians can do all these criminal things with impunity? Why for example there are no massive retractions of accreditations for Russians diplomats and arrests of citizens who work for the Russians? Why there are no NATO coordinated cyber attacks against Russia or electronic disturbances of communications in Russia?

[@RubenLensvelt]

"How come the Russians can do all these criminal things with impunity?" because they're russians with israeli passports

[@user-dg7ec4xg2j]

Hey Rupert Murdock why cant you do this stuff on Fox News too? Maybe helpy country out a little bit!?!?

[@pinkfloyd870]

He thinks you are all idiots. So you get Fox. He knows you well.

[@user-dg7ec4xg2j]

@@pinkfloyd870 actually I think Fox News suffers from some thing called audience capture but that no excuse. I see how his new is in Britain and there's manipulation tactics used there too. Don't be ignorant.

[@Jessica-kk1cz]

And there’s the Murdoch / Putin issue. Tucker Carlson was taking Russian money for years. That’s why he kept promoting Putin propaganda when Putin invaded Ukraine. Carlson is a “useful idiot”. Like Trump is.

[@erichbreckoff3405]

Murdock has the Hots for dictators. Democracy is the enemy of the rich.

[@MakeRedWaves-SwingVoter2024]

I say charge all persons who are spewing Russian propaganda with assisting them, and we should investigate them along with all of their associates.

[@catpowerro1110]

Hungary is a russian enclave. Romania have political parties openly tied to Russia, Slovakia has Fico (russian agent), Serbia is a russian puppet.

[@W_Bin]

Germany wants channels to communicate with Russia - have they heard of telephones?

[@W_Bin]

@TimesRadio please write out the names and events these interviewees are mumbling- we don't know who they're talking about. Chapters WBG

[@MichaelDembinski]

Absolutely. Intern-level production. With Meek Aychee Bow (well that's what it sounds like to me).

[@hullutsuhna]

better yet, send someone with proper cameras, microphones & Internet connections to these people to do the streaming for them, having people join your podcast using potatoes for cameras & paper cups for microphones is ridiculous.

[@ChrisKChastain]

If they are known, they can be a distraction that helps keep the unknown ones from being observed.

[@ezbody]

Russians are not known for their sophisticated schemes, they prefer crude methods, violence and brute force. In other words, they are not very bright, if they were, they wouldn't start this silly war to begin with.

[@user-dg7ec4xg2j]

Maybe if this Rupert Murdoch owned channel covered the same stuff on Fox News then the republicans would realize that Putin is not their friend..

[@user-dg7ec4xg2j]

Rupert Murdoch owns this channel and Fox News but the coverage is entirely different!!!!

[@MyWalk3296]

Yep

[@eurocrusader1724]

The euhm is strong with this one... Speak up man!

[@ridethecurve55]

Puts me to sleep. Sounds like he's talking in his sleep.

[@hybridarmyoffreeworld]

31:44 they are not comedians , they are FSB AGENTS, under sanctions. They have done this FSB gig 100 times already. Its time to send them a massage ....

[@MyWalk3296]

Agree

[@xantiom]

FSB is the equivalent of the FBI, domestic intelligence in Russia. Foreign civilian intelligence is SVR and foreign military intelligence is GRU.

[@larsrons7937]

@@xantiom That is correct.

[@luminyam6145]

And diplomats launder money for Russia too, that's the advantage of IPP status.

[@paulthomas-hh2kv]

Nobody talking about the Chinese troops training in Belorus, maybe getting ready for Nato troops

[@YankaBakasci]

Watch" Ryan McBeth" . Every country does it. 😊

[@cadennorris960]

That’s just fear mongering. It’s less than 500 PLA soldiers what could they possibly do to NATO or even Poland alone?

[@pinkfloyd870]

@@cadennorris960 You think they send them all to start? That is not how it is done. 500 set up for 50,000 who set up for 5 000 000

[@BlutoandCo]

​@@pinkfloyd870it's Intel gathering

[@rambleon2838]

This is phase 2 of the Chinese espionage operations through out Europe via their involvements in shipping and infrastructure investments in the Balkans through their Belt and Road Initiative. Since 2002, China state owned COSCO shipping accrued 67% ownership of the port of Piraeus. The port has also been used by the Chinese navy. Their latest acquisition was a 24% stake of the port of Hamburg. They've tried to negotiate up to 50% first. China has been aggressively trying to gain further back door access to the European market via Eastern Europe. It is in their highest interest to get a foothold in Ukraine but also keep them out of EU regulators and NATO. Xi's recent visit to Serbia, Hungary and Moscow followed by military exercises in Belarus and this weeks Orban's jet setting event around the globe as the pro tempore president of the EU should be a tell tale and a warning. German DW News recently ran a story on huge lithium deposits in the Donbas and central Ukraine China is believed to be interested in via their Russian military arm. China also agreed on building an EV factory plant in Hungary and is involved mining lithium deposits in Serbia. There're are also talks of opening another EV plant in Turkey which has full access to the EU market. China with it's eastern European partners has quickly found out to subvert the recent imposed tariffs on EV dumping on the European market. There are two cynical parts to this attempted new world imperialism coming from Asia, aka BRICS+: Russia is willing to play the world bully and military aspect of it while China is more involved in the economic development and diplomatic smoothing over and normalizing of Russian's behavior on the world stage.

[@wetrock2766]

Your last contributor was a pain to listen to, I skipped to the end even though he had interesting points to give.

[@EZLogikal]

Really appreciate you arranging this and sharing it with us

[@robertsmuggles6871]

17.34 “how common is it to use diplomats as spies….certainly for Russia; is there evidence for them doing this elesewhere” - Did the Times interviewer really just say this ?

[@tabithan2978]

All Russians should be required to register at the local police station, so Europe can monitor suspects of espionage.

[@veganbutcherhackepeter]

First in to laugh about Russia.

[@lovemyalaskaful]

What does that mean??

[@johnproton259]

I trust that the Americans are even more active inside Russia itself. 😎

[@ArtsofWellness-o1A]

How interesting to finally hear about the topic of espionage across the EU. What are the plans to alert the entire Commonwealth and/or Global South Governments to these practices (tourism galore). Thank you🙏

[@eddybrevet6816]

acting on the behalf of Putin is to expose yourself as an angry clown or a puppet with no recourse , follow orders or else

[@JohnBl7167]

Where were you in the run up to Brexit and Trump's successful election campaign ?

[@buntyjoy1800]

Ikr. Reform anyone

[@ryanthompson1981]

For real

[@luminyam6145]

You are supposed to be a journalist, hold that camera steady, you are making our stomachs "motion sick".

[@midimusicforever]

Oust the spies!

[@Sidicas]

35:35 Well then that's the answer!! Tell Putin he can have Italy if he leaves Ukraine alone. Let's make a deal! Since Italy is ALWAYS on the losing side of a war, we definitely don't want them on our side!

[@Soulessdeeds]

Russia today couldn't beat 1990s EU.

[@michaelcollett7214]

I can't watch this any further. Kind of. Umm. Errr. Kind of umm. Kind of err. The man is incapable of communication in English.

[@jeshuathomas3312]

Swear to god. If that guy says " ummmmmm" "clicks: "ummmm" one more time. I'm going to lose all my brain cells. He said "ummm" more times than words. I'm over here saying stop asking him questions!! He barely knows!😂

[@Sylla_Siben]

Um ah um um um um um ah.........

[@steelersLife4Life]

but...Russia hasn't the air or land power to conduct or resist any such encounter.

[@stephie52]

Awful camera work from the guy outside the Russian embassy in Brussels.

[@Nk1277-h1n]

Let's remember how US intelligence for years was wiretapping phone of Angela Merkel and all other european leaders 😂

[@MyWalk3296]

Time to stop them

[@paulross225]

It's worth remembering how collaborators were treated - by both sides , during/post WW2.

[@ArtsofWellness-o1A]

Time to take a stance, together. Local and foreign citizens in any (developing) nation could become or made targets wherever (mutual) Russian political interests reign, infrastructure projects and oil, gas and other trade continue "as normal", and tourism flows.

[@andyw7758]

12:20 - Pretty funny that displayed behind him is a waveform display proudly showing the world what a poor level they're getting from the mic input. Typical Times Radio.

[@danhaydon7291]

Can you name the journalists please? The ine who discussed italy in particular

[@W_Bin]

37:58 espionage since 2022

[@efowlermail]

Will they disrupt the Olympics?

[@tikaanipippin]

The secret war by Russia is on at least 6 continents, the major physical action being from the Middle East and Africa with displaced people headed to Europe, using Russian and Russian-backed transporters, from areas with military governments and dictatorships backed by Moscow, and Russian PMCs such as Wagner Group, and South America, with displaced populations heading through Central America to the USA. Europe has no security to Russian personnel crossing non-existent EU borders, even as far as the UK, now wisely separated from the vulnerable European continental federation. Australasia is also challenged via South-East Asia, where too, Russia has fingers in many pies. Then there is Xi's China, which also is interested in diminishing western power, but is probably extremely embarrassed by Russian apparent military weakness, and not wishing to be involved in any of Moscow's nuclear sabre rattling over Ukraine, thus keeping Putin at arm's length. China itself is probably not as strong in terms of Armed forces as it would like the rest of the world to believe.

[@Phreno_Xeno]

One would expect a radio station not to have such awful sound quality...

[@j.k.cascade2057]

you think this is a radio station ???

[@jimparr01Utube]

Lame reporting. Maybe 3 thousand 'uhmms'.

[@muuuuuud]

Your ideas on russian operations are critically out of date. Things move a lot faster than that.... and their attacks are much, much more pervasive than you seem to realize.

[@philipellis4530]

How does this kid Oliver know anything about whats going on in Russia, he needs to talk with these guys, Larry Johnson, Ray McGovern, Scott Ritter, Doug Macgregor John Mearsheimer, Prof.Jeffrey Sachs, Gilbert Doctorow, Andrei Martyanov, then you can talk sense.

[@WangAiHua]

They all work for Pootler!

[@als1023]

This is an excellent piece and the research is 1st class. It is astounding that the western world is stalling and hesitating to speak the truth about ruzzian activities. The cold war seems benign compared to the current conflict we are in. If I could give advice, the number of ums and ahs , in the many hundreds, really takes away from the information being presented. The ability to communicate, is more important than ever in the digital age.

[@ak5659]

I tried, but just couldn't deal with his speech patterns. Were I interpreting this I'd've trebled my charge two minutes in.

[@brianquigley1940]

The "preview" at the beginning is a hold-over from print meida... completely off putting when used with online media. Wake up, Time Radio!!!

[@AgnieszkaNishka]

Author perhaps forgot when discussing electronic warfare about NATO military planes, capable of carrying nuclear missiles, flying up to the Russian airspace, probably just for fun, not to mention spy drones and spy planes that provide targeting data for NATO missiles fired from Ukraine to Russia.

[@yowie369]

Australia this week too.

[@jabarel594]

Like sabotaging a weapons manufacturer in Ohio..or trains...

[@MyWalk3296]

🎯

[@maggyvoll]

interviewee eeems 5 times per sentence. one cannot not listen tomthis.

[@user-db7dk3zu7b]

Ummmm ummm ummmm (sigh... ) ummm ummm ......

[@blackthai5023]

Is this like a Russian 77th Brigade operation or the Gladio operations after the 2nd WW?

[@catherineandpaulfuters2523]

Thank you for your coverage 🇬🇧🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇦🇪🇺

[@jp4567x]

Embassies are Military Basecamps under the guise of diplomacy. USGovernment in Iraq, have 5ft thick walls at that Basecamp

[@PaoloCrotti-b6d]

benigni shuld ask putin to stop the war.😁

[@Pyramidalist]

you are absolutely right ... but too young to know how long this is fact. And please train to speak without or less "ääeehhh" ..

[@vortigern3910]

Why do you keep interviewing this guy he clearly does not want to be, listening to him is like a root canal.🙃

[@fishstjohns]

Well, that was pretty mediocre. It’s like you talked about the wheel again. We’ve passed the wheel.

[@wolfgangemmerich7552]

Surch for ,, Cosy Bear " & ,, Fancy Bear " .

[@moomenoueslati4887]

he only speak speak but there are no proof. give us your proof ?

[@guitarmande]

He's umm... almost , umm totally,, ummm, unlistenable ummmm

[@colmbrowne2788]

Summary: ah um ah um um ah hum um ah. The last guy was a terrible interviewee. Painful to listen to him trying to access his grey matter.

[@user-ws7qo3zu1o]

His intellect works fine the problem is his speech center.

[@ChesfromtheAcc1]

As ig the west hasn't done the same, bunch of hypocrites.

[@lloydpayne5651]

What a lot of BS.whay don't you give a little Prof ,too mush propaganda

[@newby2224]

the guy need a tripod or a new iPhone to stop the gittering video

[@circacire1118]

err, uhm......

[@gameplaypassions]

This umm guy is ummm awful.

[@drcpbrowndrcpbrown]

It’s painful to watch this fellow express his ideas.

[@BlutoandCo]

It isn't.

[@pinkfloyd870]

Learn to understand motive. Who owns this channel? What is their history in news? Just do a quick search, and all your answers will be provided free! Hint. Times Radio is a British digital radio station owned by News UK, which is a part of the Rupert Murdoch media empire. The owner is another billionaire Putin lap dog.

[@mikefrost5786]

Ummmm

[@pottedferne]

Sneaky sneaky poo10!!

[@scotthunter7140]

Not like the EU to hamper countries running and ruling themselves.

[@Stracciways23]

make a movie more profit about it your fantasie your same ones told us lies all those years your a guru

[@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites]

Boris Johnson should be investigated for his Russian links

[@RubenLensvelt]

his russian links to chabbad lubavitch

[@usa3526]

Maybe NATO should have kept it's promise and not marched East.

[@user-ws7qo3zu1o]

Russia came first against Ukraine, remember.

[@TheAlaina01]

Hmmm Hmmmm Hmmm Unfortunately useless orator

[@ulfsoderberg2581]

Bellingcat is fonded by USA and western countries. Not mutch independens there.

[@omarsilva5385]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@HannuKaleviElo]

😅😂🤣

[@isstechnz1021]

A1 information. That last guy talking needs a coffee

[@tinap.5064]

He needs to be replaced. His commentary could have been so interesting if he actually cared about it. And if he would make notes to refer to instead of the constant hums and ums it would have also been more interesting.

[@thekaiser4333]

What is the point of a spy network if you expose it? You're spoiling all the fun. Stop doing that. Spy networks are supposed to remain secret. So bloody act accordingly and don't be a nasty spoilsport.

[@raymondwu9483]

Yes. When a channel has so much "information", it really makes you wonder...

[@julianmcgee5741]

A new look jimbo? James the earnest next to the locked computer box...holder of secrets...