Thread by @oculusfiles

Former KGB, FSB, GRU agents/officers and how the West has a tendency to see them.
With my 45 years experience of working with the Russians, their security services and in 90s and early 2000s with security detail for the extremely wealthy Russian elite

I deem myself experienced enough to express my opinion about the topic here...
What we in the west often do is as soon as a former agent but preferably officer makes themselves known to us we put them on a pedestal and take their words for gospel.

I have met so many Russian security agents/officers over the years both when I have been questioned by them in USSR/Russia and when I have met former agents/officers and a vast majority of them are simply cogs in a massive wheel working on pretty mundane assignments and very,very

few of them have had any importance for Western intelligence services. Former officers like Double agents of the caliber and importance of Gordievsky(1985) are rarely seen/surface.

The vast majority are nothing more than former agents/officers who have in no way had an important role to play in the Soviet/Russian intelligence services. However they are aware of the fascination in the west for their status as former agents/officers and the status that

comes with it.
Over the years my experiences told me not to trust them which I haven't done and I am still very wary of the Russian security services. Back in 1970s and early 1980s the KGB made several attempts to recruit me as a fluent young British Russian speaker and the son

of a Captain in the Royal Navy.
Every time I read about a former Russian Intel agent/officer who has opened themselves to the western social media I am pretty sure this is just another fish in the pond wanting to make a name for themselves.

The vast majority of them have very little to offer our western security services but if we piece together each and everyone of them and the work they did with the Russian security services we can add it to what we already know and increase our knowledge of the Russian

security services.
I read a twitter post earlier about a former GRU agent/officer and their picture of Russia, the war and sentiment in Russia today but honestly there was nothing whatsoever of interest in that long twitter post which any average Russian could have written.

Don't always just take for granted what they say/write about. Question it. Is there anything revolutionary/new in what they say?
Usually the answer is no.

So please don't always put these former Russian security employees on a pedestal and treat them like they are former "James Bond" characters as they hardly ever are.

It is of course important to question the role they played as agent/officer in the Russian security services.
Also, don't take their word as gospel. I have mentioned earlier..
With this in mind rewind and think anew when you read twitters about/by an ex Russian security employee

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