FSS / Photo: Depositphotos
On Thursday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) said that Ukrainian intelligence services are allegedly attempting to recruit Russian citizens and collect information about Russia’s military actions under the guise of the RAND Corporation, a US non-profit organisation that was previously declared “undesirable” in Russia.
The accusations were made in an article by the Kremlin’s RIA Novosti propaganda agency, which regularly publishes statements that are in line with the official line of the Russian authorities. According to them, representatives of Ukrainian intelligence allegedly used the name RAND as a cover for espionage activities in Russia.
In response, a representative of the RAND Corp categorically rejected the allegations. “We cannot comment on what Ukrainian officials may have said or done, but RAND researchers and analysts have nothing to do with what the FSS is accusing us of,” the official statement said.
The RAND stressed that the organisation is independent, non-partisan and has been working for almost 80 years, conducting analysis and research to support policy decisions in the United States.
Experts see the latest accusation as part of Moscow’s broader information campaign aimed at demonising Ukraine and Western institutions, as well as justifying its own isolationist policy in the face of ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
