Is Russia Behind Belarus' KGB Spy Network In Europe?

• 10.09.2025, 15:20

The opinion of SBU Gen.

A spy network organized by the KGB of Belarus was exposed in Europe. It was engaged in recruiting agents and collecting secret information in the interests of Moscow. The operation involved the special services of the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary, which detained the former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence Alexander Balan and expelled the Belarusian diplomat.

How wide a network of KGB agents of Belarus can be expected in Europe and whether Minsk has really become a "cover" for Moscow in intelligence operations? Charter97.org talked with retired SBU Major General Viktor Yagun about this:

- I don't think it's a wide network. There is a technique that was still used by the Soviet Union: the use of proxies - satellites to solve problems under someone else's flag, so as not to "shine" themselves directly. In Soviet times, for example, Bulgarian intelligence was actively used, especially GDR intelligence.

This is an understandable practice. Today in Europe it is much more difficult to use proxies openly, so they resort to other schemes: they act under a foreign flag, recruit Russian-speaking citizens, or hide who is behind the recruitment. Another option is to actively involve Belarus. There is less attention to it, and that's why Moscow covers its operations with Belarusian special services. I don't think that the Belarusians have a very large agent network. Everything depends on financing. Unless Russia provides it with money.