After a career confronting Russian intelligence, I can attest that the most important weapon against an authoritarian system isn't always technology or military power.  👉Sometimes it's a single individual with the courage to say “no,” and their ACCESS to information that makes a difference. 🔸I was on the @bbcworldservice today to discuss a new documentary out from the BBC called “The Shadowmen.” It is about a Ukrainian agent, a Russian national, who took tremendous risks to help their cause. There’s a similar report out from the @WSJ this weekend on a Russian officer who defected to Ukraine, risking his life and in the process killing scores of his comrades to counter what he believes is an unjust war. ⚠️These people remind us that Russia is more than Putin, his military, and his security services—and that even in the darkest hours, there are Russians prepared to risk everything for a different future. 🔸I highly recommend the BBC documentary: “The ShadowMen.” I was privileged to be one of the advanced viewers and assisted the BBC in analyzing intel aspects of this documentary. And I was honored to be interviewed this morning on the BBC World Radio on it. 🚨As I said in my BBC radio appearance this morning: "we celebrate soldiers on the battlefield and rightfully so, but there are also heroes in the shadows...some whose names we never know, taking incredible risks without recognition." 🔸I will let you all make up your mind: is the agent genuine or was he a Russian double agent; vetting and validation always difficult challenges with such cases. There are many such cases the Ukrainian services are running, Russians inside Russia taking incredible risk. As I also said to the BBC: the Ukrainians are on the forefront of both technological and intelligence innovation in their fight for their very survival. 🔸Chapter 10 of my book: “Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks” is on the Ukraine War and the Russian and other intelligence tactics used in this struggle, hope you also check it out… 👇Watch (or listen) to the great work of the @BBCNews, kudos to @garnsey_monica and their team (audio pod here, video below): bbc.com/audio/play/p0ph2fk6

This article on deterrence and Russian escalation in the grey zone is well worth your read from a friend and former CIA colleague, David Gioe @GioeINT . Dave and I agree on the problem of what I have been calling "empty deterrence" and he goes on to some other strong options and arguments for what NATO and the U.S. SHOULD be doing...give it a read, well worth your time! 🚨 In addition to TAURUS missiles for the Germans to give Ukraine --a real HIT BACK to the Russians vice what David and I both agree is not serious "closing of consulates, cultural centers, and other serious measures..." (Putin was sighing at that one!)... We, the U.S., should also give Ukraine the ERAMS long range strike packages and software for their F-16's, advocated by Admiral Mark Montgomery months ago...the Ukrainians can use them immediately, Congress approved this sale a long-time ago--3500 of them! We can SELL them (I say give em away to heroes fighting for their freedom, but fine sell them then), and the Europeans and other allies will help pay--give the Ukrainians, in Churchills words, "the TOOLS" so they can "finish the job!" Kudos David for drawing more attention to these critical issues...

Europe is flooded every week with new reports of Russian hybrid war and escalation in the so-called #GrayZone. It’s more important than ever for NATO, the U.S. and our allies to understand Russian Intelligence tactics… 🎧 Coming in 7 days—September 22 worldwide the Audiobook of my work which took 2 years in the making: 🚨Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks: Russian Intelligence and Putin’s Secret War 🔹Eight+ hours listening on how the SVR, GRU and FSB actually operate — espionage, surveillance, active measures, sabotage, deception and assassination. 🔹Ten chapters of their craft, heavily cited and richly illustrated, with real world stories from actual Russian spies I worked with and against. 👉I was fortunate to have CIA DDO Michael Sulick write the Foreword, while former CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation Jennifer Ewbank called the book “essential reading for anyone trying to understand and resist Putin’s secret war." 👉H. Keith Melton, world-renowned intelligence historian and spy author described it as “a rare insider’s view into the real world of Russian espionage.” 👉And MP Woodward (@MPWauthor ), the NYT best-selling author of RED TIDE and the Jack Ryan-Tom Clancy novels called it "a knowledgeable, timely, and accessible account of arguably the most consequential intelligence service in the world today." 🔥The hardcover, paperback and e-book have sold thousands of copies worldwide; and we are honored by the welcome so far for the book and its mission. ✅Naval Institute Press, my publisher, is a non-profit that supports the Navy and Marine Corps. If you’ve wanted to read it but haven’t had the time, this may be the easiest way. 🙏Thank you for supporting the book and its mission! Please repost and help spread the word (the RIS hate this book and troll me every chance they can, THAT is the best endorsement we have for its truth!). #Espionage #RussianIntelligence #NationalSecurity 1/