The Guardian: Western intelligence agencies step up efforts to recruit Russians

Western intelligence agencies are stepping up efforts to recruit Russians , focusing on operations in third countries due to risks of conducting such operations inside Russia itself, reports the British newspaper The Guardian.

"Several European security and intelligence sources have confirmed that Western agencies have stepped up their recruitment efforts,”, the publication claimed.

One of the sources noted that at the first stage of involving a potential agent, intelligence officials either make contact with those who themselves have expressed a willingness to cooperate, or resort to the proven method of using "suitcases full of money". The publication claims that recruitment is currently being complicated by the ban on Russian officials visiting European countries.