Disclosure of identities of 305 #GRU operatives, the largest intelligence blunder in modern Russian history is entirely of domestic making, and only all-penetrating corruption and state erosion are to blame. Here is how it works 👇1/
When crosschecking identities of #GRU operatives disclosed by the Dutch authorities, @bellingcat and @the_ins_ru went through the register of Russian traffic police. One of the cars was registered at Komsomolsky Prospekt 20, one of #GRU barracks that hosts cyber unit 26165 2/
There are 305 individuals who have their cars registered using the same address, and the database contains their full names, DOB, ID data, cell phone numbers etc. 3/
How is that possible? First, the Russian Traffic Authority is notoriously corrupt even by Russian standards, it's inexhaustible source of dark Russian humor. No surprise its database is very easy to buy in the black market since 1990s. 4/
But why would #GRU super spy register his private car using address of his secretive employer? Well, this gives you bonuses - you are put on a special list so the traffic police can't stop, the fines for drunk driving etc. never apply to you, and you don't need to pay car tax 5/
Root cause of largest intelligence failure in modern Russian history is a combination of wrecked values system in parts of the Russian society deeply rooted in Soviet past, notorious incompetence and, well, banal corruption. END or FINISH as we say in Russia
