Posted 1/8/2024, 3:09:00 PM
Russia Revives Stalin-Era Counterintelligence Unit Death to Spies
- Russia has re-established the Stalin-era counterintelligence unit SMERSH, used to catch spies and dissidents, per UK intelligence
- SMERSH, whose name means "death to spies", was originally formed in 1941 to combat Nazi infiltration and repress dissent
- An image showed operatives apparently wearing SMERSH uniform patches in early 2024
- Unclear if new SMERSH is a rebranded existing unit or completely new
- Renewal seen as part of Kremlin effort to portray Ukraine war in spirit of WWII and obsession with external threats