The end of 2021 was marked by a deterioration in relations between Russia and NATO – up to mutual threats and the very high probability of war in Ukraine. But a new round of aggravation began earlier – in October – with the expulsion of eight employees of the Russian mission to NATO for espionage activities, to which Vladimir Putin unexpectedly reacted sharply.
Who exactly was deported then remained unknown. The Dossier Center, together with EUobserver, lifts the veil of secrecy and reveals the identities of diplomats suspected of collecting intelligence at NATO headquarters.
First of all, this is Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Smushkoa native of Estonia who graduated from the Military University of the Ministry of Defense. At the faculty where Smushko studied, train specialists in obtaining and processing foreign military information, Most of its graduates go to serve in the GRU and the SVR. Smushko often worked as a translator for the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, including with the former Minister of Defense Anatoly Serdyukovcurrent minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Another notable expelled “diplomat” is a resident of St. Petersburg Dmitry Filippenok. His phone number is registered as an FSB officerissued by the military counterintelligence department of the special service for the Western Military District. He probably spied on Russian Defense Ministry employees at the NATO office in Brussels.
About who else left Brussels and why Russian diplomats could be expelled:
https://dossier.center/nato-spy
In the summer of 2021, Russian authorities blocked our website. Now the Dossier Center’s investigations in Russia can only be read via VPN or on a mirror:
Who were the Russians expelled from Brussels for spying on NATO?
“ВЧК ОГПУ”
