How Russia's new elite hit squad was compromised by Google Translate
a day ago
- #Russian intelligence
- #transnational repression
- #assassination plots
- Center 795 is a top-secret Russian unit formed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, comprising elite GRU and FSB operatives.
- The unit is designed for high-stakes operations, including assassinations, abductions, and military missions in Ukraine and abroad.
- Denis Alimov, a senior operative in Center 795, was arrested in Colombia for orchestrating assassination plots against Chechen dissidents.
- Alimov's downfall was due to using Google Translate for encrypted communications, which were intercepted by the FBI.
- Center 795 operates under the guise of the Kalashnikov Concern, with its base at Patriot Park near Moscow.
- The unit is funded by billionaire Andrei Bokarev and has ties to Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov.
- Denis Fisenko, a veteran of FSB's Alfa unit, leads Center 795, which is structured into Intelligence, Assault, and Combat Support directorates.
- The unit's operations include cyber warfare, drone reconnaissance, and targeted killings, with a focus on transnational repression.
- Alimov's arrest exposed Center 795's activities, compromising its secrecy and operational integrity.
- The unit's exposure highlights systemic issues in Russian intelligence tradecraft, including reliance on insecure communication methods.