Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has released an English-language video calling on “true American patriots” to make contact through secure communication channels. The video, published on Thursday, appears to be a direct response to the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) efforts to recruit Russians amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Against the backdrop of the CIA’s “clumsy attempts to recruit Russian citizens using primitive video clips, the SVR is publishing an appeal to Americans for whom love for their homeland and the ideals of freedom are not an empty phrase.” pic.twitter.com/CtQA99fgqI
— Victor vickop55 commentary (@vick55top) February 6, 2025
The video posted by SVR, which traces its roots to the Soviet KGB, contrasts the current geopolitical landscape with historical U.S.-Soviet cooperation against Nazi Germany during World War II.
The video highlights what it describes as the dangers of U.S. foreign policy, particularly the supply of lethal aid to Kyiv, and calls on Americans who oppose Washington’s military support for Ukraine to consider working with Russian intelligence to promote global peace.
The SVR’s move follows a CIA recruitment campaign targeting Russians, which was launched in 2023 amid the war in Ukraine. In that campaign, the CIA called on Russian officials and citizens with access to state secrets to come forward, arguing that the Russian government was rife with corruption and deception.
The CIA launched a Telegram channel to recruit Russians.
The channel published a two-minute video in Russian titled “Why I Contacted the CIA: My Decision,” and posted instructions for anonymous communication with the U.S. agency, CNN reported.According to the channel, the CIA… pic.twitter.com/0SyZYEiIWz
— GWAR69 🇩🇰🇺🇦 (@GwarWorin) May 16, 2023
While the CIA has not publicly responded to the SVR’s message, U.S. intelligence officials have repeatedly warned about Russian disinformation campaigns and influence operations aimed at shaping American political discourse.
President Donald Trump previously warned that he will impose steep tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not end the war in Ukraine.
According to Trump, the United States has provided approximately $300 billion in military and economic aid to Kyiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier this week, he suggested that Ukraine repay Washington’s support by supplying rare earth minerals.
His remarks come amid growing debate over continued U.S. support for Ukraine. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump criticized the scale of assistance provided under the Biden administration and claimed he could negotiate an end to the conflict “within 24 hours” if elected.
On Monday, he reiterated that efforts are underway to resolve the war, saying: “We made a lot of progress on Russia, Ukraine. We’re going to stop that ridiculous war.”
