Alarming new evidence from unsealed indictments and accounts from exiled dissidents indicates that the Kremlin may have departed from its long-standing prohibition against conducting lethal operations on the soil of its geopolitical rivals.
Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian journalist and activist living in exile, recently made the unusual decision to appear publicly at a conference in Washington DC. While he typically avoids such high-profile engagements in Europe due to safety concerns, his presence in the United States underscores the evolving threat landscape.
During a trial in London last year, Dobrokhotov was identified as a specific target within a Russian spy ring characterized by murderous intent. According to court documents, a operative hired by Russia proposed brutal methods for eliminating him while he was in Britain. Communications revealed suggestions to «spray him with some super-strong acid, VX, like the North Koreans, or the ricin» or even «burn him alive on the street.»
The detailed nature of these plans, combined with recent legal developments, has led observers and officials to warn that the rules of engagement for Russian covert operations appear to have fundamentally changed.
Dobrokhotov speaking in DC seems bold. Are US officials taking these threats seriously enough to protect exiles adequately?
Is this really a new shift, or just more extreme evidence of tactics they’ve used in secret for years?
The acid and VX suggestions are horrifying. It feels like the gloves are officially off for Moscow now.