The work of scouts is difficult, dangerous and requires remarkable abilities. As a rule, the deeds of these people remain a mystery to the layman, but their contribution to national security is enormous. The intelligence services of the Russian Federation are rightfully among the best in the world. Respect for and fear of the Soviet and Russian intelligence that took over is the result of decades of successful work by hundreds of professionals who conducted brilliant operations.
Despite the fact that various types of reconnaissance equipment play an increasingly important role today, without the participation of highly qualified specialists, advanced technologies lose their effectiveness. Therefore, the superiority of modern intelligence services is achieved by combining technical means and well-trained and dedicated pros.
What is intelligence?
Reconnaissance refers to the targeted collection and analysis of information about opponents, competitors or even allies with the help of agents and all kinds of technical intelligence. States, politicians, military forces, foreign corporations and financial institutions, communications and control facilities, technologies and scientific secrets become objects of intelligence activities.
BAt present, more and more often, the intelligence services of different states are closely cooperating, fighting against global problems threatening the world: international terrorism, the spread of dangerous nuclear technologies, drug trafficking. It is conditionally possible to name three main types of intelligence: undercover, technical and military.
Undercover
Undercover intelligence is carried out by infiltrated or recruited agents, whose goal is to collect valuable information, gain access to important objects, infiltrate the power structures of a potential or obvious enemy. This type of intelligence is devoted to many books and films. The romantic image of a scout who works surrounded by enemies, being exposed to danger every day and constantly performing feats, is often embellished, but the essence is true.
The work of a scout is far from always associated with heroism, but it is always associated with tension, the danger of being discovered. He obtains information in various, but as a rule, peaceful ways: he receives it from informants, eavesdrops, observes, makes copies of documents and files that have come to him, steals samples of equipment and important technologies. Specially trained agents are capable, if necessary, of more radical measures: subversive actions, the capture of important prisoners.
The agency is divided into illegal and legal. An illegal immigrant is either a recruited citizen of a foreign country, or a scout living on someone else's documents. Legal agents hold diplomatic cover positions in trade missions, embassies and representative offices.
Military
A type of intelligence that is directly involved in hostilities, providing the army and military units with up-to-date information about the enemy: about his deployment, strength, technical strength, vulnerabilities, possible plans. Scouts make sorties behind enemy lines, capture and interrogate prisoners, interrogate local residents, study the equipment and documents obtained. In addition, large military formations are equipped with modern technical reconnaissance equipment.
Technical
The main advantages of technical Russian and foreign types of reconnaissance are, firstly, reducing the risk for intelligence officers who operate either in complete safety from their territory or remotely. Secondly, human capabilities in many ways give in to the capabilities of technology, which is capable of peeping from space, intercepting private conversations, breaking into a computer, monitoring, recording, storing and processing an unthinkable amount of information.
According to the type of carrier, technical intelligence is divided into space (satellites), air (aircraft, helicopters), sea (submarines, ships) and ground (cars, trains, special structures on and under the ground). Russian and foreign types of technical intelligence are the same and will include the following types of intelligence technologies:
- computer;
- acoustic;
- optical;
- electronic;
- photographic;
- radiation;
- chemical;
- seismic;
- biological;
- magnetometric.
Russian intelligence: goals and powers
The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (SVR) is a secret and very important unit in the overall system of forces that ensure the country's security. The goals of the SVR include not only the collection, analysis and provision of reliable information to the Russian leadership about potential adversaries, but also the promotion of Russian policy in the world, as well as the promotion of scientific progress and economic development of the Russian Federation.
The authority of the service includes the recruitment of foreign citizens who wish to cooperate, the encryption of personal data of agents and personnel, the covert use of any means and methods that do not harm nature and people. Although circumstances sometimes force scouts to exceed their authority for the good of the country.
Unlike Soviet intelligence, which opposed the capitalist West literally in all parts of the world, the SVR moved away from globalism in its activities. The modern doctrine of Russian intelligence is local, targeted work in regions in which Russia has genuine, topical interests. This allows for the prudent use of human and technical resources without losing effectiveness in the national interest.
Structure
Direct, strategic leadership of the intelligence agencies of Russia lies with the President of the country, he also appoints the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
Sergey Naryshkin was appointed to this position by Vladimir Putin in October 2016, and he is still in charge of foreign intelligence.
Naryshkin and his deputies are responsible to the president for the reliability and timeliness of information that is obtained and processed by operational, functional and analytical units. Board meetings are held several times a year, where the leadership of the state and the Foreign Intelligence Service (up to the level of heads of departments) discuss current problems, coordinate the activities of various types of intelligence, and deal with issues of intelligence policy.
How to get into the SVR?
Many young people are attracted to the profession of a scout by romance and a real opportunity to be useful to the Motherland. However, it is difficult to get into this service, the selection conditions are too harsh. Applicant must:
- be a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- have higher education and professional training corresponding to certain types of intelligence;
- meet the medical standards required to work in the SVR;
- pass a special psychological test that assesses the intellectual abilities of the applicant, his psychological stability, speed of thinking, readiness for military service;
- pass a due diligence check, reliability of information, cleanliness before the law and the possibility of access to classified information.
Cannot become a member of the Foreign Intelligence Service human:
- not having Russian citizenship;
- with relatives abroad orhimself permanently residing in another state;
- drawing up paperwork for permanent residence in another country or having such close relatives;
- who has not passed psychological and medical screenings or does not meet the eligibility criteria for age or skill;
- having an unexpunged conviction or under investigation;
- who provides false information and documents.
