Russian military intelligence officers have written a letter to President Vladimir Putin expressing their distress after being expelled from European countries following the Ukraine war.
The officers, previously stationed in embassies, complained about the difficulties their families faced upon returning to Moscow.
Last year, European governments expelled numerous Russian diplomats in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The officers, suspected of being spies, were forced to leave their diplomatic posts, causing unexpected challenges for their families.
The Russian-language investigative website, The Insider, claims to have obtained the letter, in which 11 GRU officers outlined their concerns to Putin.
They highlighted the scarcity of housing, the lack of kindergarten spaces for their children, and limited job opportunities for their wives in Moscow and other regions.
The letter, addressed to Putin as Vladimir Vladimirovich, emphasised the personal tragedy faced by the officers’ families and the problems arising from their sudden departure from diplomatic missions. The officers expressed frustration with the advice given to one wife, who, while seeking a job, was allegedly told rudely, “If you don’t like it, you can go and deliver pizzas.”
While the authenticity of the letter cannot be verified, The Insider claims to have obtained it from an employee within Putin’s presidential administration who redacted the names of the complainants to protect their identity.
The officers also revealed a sense of inequality between GRU officers and foreign ministry diplomats who were also expelled.
They pointed out difficulties in affording housing in Moscow and criticised the allocation of schools for their children compared to the foreign ministry’s more favourable situation.
In addition to their personal grievances, the officers accused the Russian media of neglecting the heroism of GRU special forces fighting in Ukraine. The Kremlin has not responded to the letter, maintaining its usual silence on matters concerning security and intelligence services.
