CIA: War in Ukraine Has "Destructive" Impact on Russian Leadership

CIA: War has "Destructive" Impact on Russian Leadership

London - According to the US foreign intelligence agency, the CIA, the war in Ukraine has had a "destructive" impact on the Russian leadership under President Vladimir Putin. The disillusionment in Russia over the war provides the CIA with new opportunities to gather intelligence, CIA Director William Burns said at the annual Ditchley Foundation lecture in Oxfordshire, England, on Saturday local time, as reported by the BBC. This comes a week after the failed revolt of the Wagner mercenary group in Russia. "This discontent creates a unique opportunity for us at the CIA," Burns said, referring to agent recruitment. "We will not let this chance pass us by."

Burns stated that the actions of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin are "a vivid reminder of the destructive impact of Putin's war on his own society and regime." Prigozhin's actions and statements will have lasting effects for some time. "The disappointment over the war will continue to gnaw at the Russian leadership."

A few weeks ago, the CIA launched a social media campaign to reach people in Russia. According to media reports, a video was released on Telegram explaining how to secretly and anonymously contact the CIA. The video was also published on other social networks. In the first week alone, the video reportedly received 2.5 million views.