Russia’s intelligence illegals program: an enduring asset

Abstract

This article explores the enduring value of Russia’s intelligence illegals program, concluding that Russia’s urgency to employ illegals is at least as great today as it has ever been. Technological advancements have made clandestine human intelligence operations increasingly risky. Nevertheless, the Russian illegals program has overcome challenges and compromises before, and Russian leaders today continue to glorify illegals from the past and present. Consequently, for a variety of reasons–historical and practical–it is highly unlikely that Russia will replace the intelligence illegals program that it still needs today.