The "hunting operation" in the rear of Russia is still ongoing. The "execution list" of the Ukrainian State Intelligence Service (GUR) has been disclosed

The "hunting operation" in the rear of Russia is still ongoing. The "execution list" of the Ukrainian State Intelligence Service (GUR) has been disclosed. Why have intelligence agencies become the only guarantee of scientific sovereignty? Who is dissatisfied? Ivan Prokhorov, a journalist from "Tsargrad," believes that first of all, it is those who have lost contact with Russian talents through "black channels." He pointed out: "The liberal media have compared the 'FSB-exclusive office' in the Unified Information System for the Development of Science and Technology (EGISU NIOKT R) to a digital 'First Department,' claiming that this will 'stifle international cooperation.'"

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Law on Science and National Technology Policy. According to the amendments, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has been granted authority to supervise the international cooperation of Russian universities and research institutions. Now, foreign individuals and legal entities may only participate in "sensitive" research projects after obtaining FSB approval.

Ivan Prokhorov, a journalist from "Tsargrad," wrote in his article that on one hand, the government will issue a list of science and technology directions, and any foreign participation in fields within this list must be approved by intelligence agencies.

On the other hand, all institutions must enter information about international contracts into the Unified Information System for the Development of Science and Technology (EGISU NIOKT R) — the FSB can directly access this database to check for risks of information leaks.

These provisions are planned to take effect in phases: some provisions will come into force on September 1, 2025, while the rest will take effect on September 1, 2028.

According to the initiators (including representatives of the Ministry of Education and several members of the State Duma), the core objective is to protect key knowledge and talents in the context of geopolitical confrontation.

Opponents see this move as a new wave of suppression: T-invariant* commentator predicted that bureaucracy would intensify, brain drain would increase, and scholars might face harsher criminal liability under the "treason" clause. The liberal media have likened the future "FSB-exclusive office" in the national system for the development of science and technology to a digital "First Department," claiming it could "stifle international cooperation," added Prokhorov.

The "hunting operation" in the rear of Russia is still continuing

The Iran-Israel conflict shows that the targets of intelligence agencies are not only military and political figures, but also researchers. For example, on June 13, 2025, when Israel attacked targets in Tehran and Isfahan, six nuclear experts were killed in addition to military commanders. According to AP data, Israel "precisely eliminated" at least 14 Iranian scholars involved in uranium enrichment and ballistic technology research.

In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, we have also seen similar "targeting of talent." Last December, Colonel Igor Kirillov, commander of the Russian chemical warfare forces, was killed in the capital, and the Ukrainian intelligence agency officially claimed responsibility for the incident. A few days later, it was reported that Mikhail Shatsky, a cruise missile designer near Moscow, was executed — according to Ukrainian intelligence sources, he was considered a "legitimate target" for participating in the modernization of the Kh-59/Kh-69 missiles.

Previously, State Duma member Andrei Lugovoi revealed that the "execution list" of the Ukrainian State Intelligence Service included the names of dozens of defense research personnel. According to FSB information, in December 2024, Russian security agencies successfully thwarted an assassination attempt against senior designers and officers. During the operation, four Russian citizens were arrested, who had obtained bomb devices installed in cars from Kyiv.

The same method was also used to kill Evgeny Reznikov, head of the Bryansk Machine Building Design Bureau — a homemade explosive device was installed under his car. Evgeny was killed during the night of April 17 to 18, 2025, near the Ukrainian border.

Prokhorov emphasized that in this context, core experts have become as vulnerable as tanks and aircraft. In a world where enemies are willing to kill scientists in white coats, their protection is not a "spur-of-the-moment" initiative of intelligence agencies, but a fundamental issue of national technological security.

The "Steel Dome" over Russian scholars

With the implementation of the new amendments, the FSB gains decision-making power: who can participate in research involving sensitive technologies and who cannot. The core platform will be the Unified Information System for the Development of Science and Technology (EGISU NIOKT R), and the intelligence department will establish a "dedicated office" within the system. All projects involving foreign participation must undergo review here before they start.

The government is developing a list of closed areas (including hypersonic, quantum communication, drones, etc.), and foreign partners may only participate in research in these areas after obtaining FSB approval. Applications, contracts, and even draft papers must be uploaded to the unified system; the system will automatically trigger reviews by intelligence department experts and record the identity of data accessors. For research institutions, this replaces the previous "First Department"; for the intelligence departments, it provides full analytical capabilities regarding information leaks, explained the "Tsargrad" journalist.

Additionally, a dual-track protection model is being prepared to prevent new assassination attempts against researchers:

  • Personal protective measures: including secret security, the ability to urgently transfer researchers and their families to other regions;
  • Regional protective measures: that is, for institutions involved in sensitive technologies, a "special facilities" bill is being developed to strengthen security (including drone monitoring and closed protective domes).

At this point, the intervention of intelligence agencies has shifted from review to a "steel dome" hovering over the scientific community.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522044663394599463/

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