Vladimir Putin’s government has shown it has grown “pretty weak” and opened the door for the US to launch a spy recruitment campaign, a former CIA officer claimed.
The agency this week unveiled a new social media campaign aiming at recruiting everyday Russians opposed to Putin’s handling of state affairs to provide intelligence to Washington.
The campaign includes a video that was widely shared on Telegram, one of the few remaining unfiltered sources of news in Russia.
The video advises disaffected Russians on how to get in touch with the CIA securely and unanimously, pledging to protect any spy turning on Putin’s regime.
Ronald Marks suggested the new campaign shows Moscow has developed clear weaknesses that are threatening Putin’s public support.
READ MORE: Trump in danger as damning evidence uncovered in classified docs probe
Marks told CNN: “It’s a real in-your-face move, no doubt. We’ve had virtual walk-ins for years where people have sent their emails and said, ‘look, I want to volunteer.’
“This is advertising and it’s an indication we really think that they’re pretty weak now, there’s real problems here.
“You’ve got a younger population at this point that is disaffected by what’s going on. We’ve picked that up loud and clear.
“It’s what we call cold pitch – you’re saying to somebody, ‘Hey, we’d like to have you.’ And if you’re the opposition at this point you’re seeing them going, ‘oh, wait a minute, we’ve got ourselves a problem’.”
The former officer suggested the campaign allows the CIA to recruit Russians who are growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Kremlin without making them feel like they are “betraying” the country.
He also noted it sends a clear signal to Moscow about how evident their frailty is to the rest of the international community.
Marks added: “It accomplishes two things in the spy game, number one is the potential to get people who are disaffected in, who love their country but are not happy with what they see going on right now.
“So somehow smoothing out the idea that I’m betraying my country, this is quite the opposite, I’m trying to help my country.
“And also feeling out the opposition, letting them know, ‘you guys are vulnerable,’ and they need to spend more resources on keeping an eye on things.”
And in another blow to Russia’s ongoing attempt to take over Ukraine, Washington confirmed on Friday the US will provide more sophisticated weapons to the war effort.
Ukraine has long begged for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge as it battles Russia’s invasion, now in its second year.
And this new plan opens the door for several nations to supply the fourth-generation aircraft and for the US to help train the pilots.
President Joe Biden laid out the agreement to world leaders meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, according to US officials.
Washington has provided no details and said decisions on when, how many, and who will supply the F-16s will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway. Details on the training are equally elusive.
US officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions not yet made public.
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and @expressusnews
