A new podcast episode featuring former CIA senior operations officer Sean Wiswesser takes a closer look at the structure, history, and evolving tactics of Russian intelligence services and their role in global security challenges.
In a conversation with host Francis Gorman, Wiswesser draws on nearly three decades of experience in the intelligence community to examine how Russian intelligence functions as a central pillar of state power, with roots tracing back to the Cheka and KGB and extending to today’s FSB, SVR, and GRU.
The episode highlights how Russian intelligence operations extend beyond traditional espionage, incorporating cyber activity, disinformation campaigns, and broader hybrid warfare tactics aimed at influencing and destabilizing Western societies. As Wiswesser notes, “What they were doing in 2016 was attacking our democracy and attacking the very concept of free and fair elections.”
A key theme is how these efforts are designed less to support a single outcome and more to fracture trust within democratic systems. “Their goal was to sow discord, distrust, and animosity in the American public,” he says.
Wiswesser also describes Russian intelligence as deeply embedded in the country’s governing structure, emphasizing continuity from Soviet-era institutions to today’s leadership. “Putin is who we thought he was. He’s a Chekist,” he says, underscoring the influence of intelligence culture on modern Russian statecraft.
The discussion also distinguishes between the Russian government and its people, framing the broader challenge as one rooted in state-driven intelligence activity rather than a societal conflict. “We’re not at war with the Russian people. We’re in an undeclared secret war with the Russian intelligence services,” Wiswesser says.
The episode aligns with themes explored in Wiswesser’s forthcoming book, which examines Russian intelligence tradecraft, tactics, and long-standing operational methods, and highlights the evolving nature of competition between states in the information and cyber domains.
