Russian saboteurs working for Ukraine detail covert operations inside Russia

BBC documentary features rare accounts from two men who claim to target military assets

By LineZotpaper

Published19 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Two Russian men secretly working for Ukraine's intelligence have given rare accounts of sabotage operations inside Russia, including surveillance of senior military officials and preparation for drone attacks, according to a BBC World Service documentary. The men, identified only as Ivan and Foma, describe a shadowy network of volunteers operating under constant threat of exposure.

The documentary, by Polish journalist Marcin Mamon, features Ivan, who claims to have played a role in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories inside Russia. He told Mamon he surveilled military sites and hid drone components for potential strikes. Ivan said he was motivated by opposition to President Vladimir Putin's regime, which he believes could fall if Russia loses the war.

Foma, a Russian exile living in Poland, runs a network of undercover volunteers in Russia that surveils high-level officers for Ukraine's military intelligence, the GUR. He said his network checks the targets themselves to ensure they are military criminals. He stressed they do not carry out attacks. After Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov was assassinated in Moscow in December 2025, Foma admitted he had provided intelligence on Sarvarov to the Ukrainians.

Both men's accounts come with caveats. The GUR has confirmed they work for the agency but acknowledged it cannot know the full picture. Ivan's handler said, 'I'm not sure of anyone, except myself.' The details of their operations are impossible to verify independently, though the broad tactics align with Ukraine's acknowledged strategy of drone attacks and secret agents.

Foma estimated there are 300-500 Russians doing similar work, though this is unverifiable. Ivan stressed the risks, recalling one instance when his car was stopped for inspection while carrying explosives. To avoid detection, the operatives have no clear structure and do not know each other's identities.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Reveals depth of covert resistance to Putin's regime within Russia.
Highlights Ukraine's strategy of using secret agents for targeted attacks.
Raises questions about the sustainability of Putin's power if internal dissent grows.

Background

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine has employed a strategy of coordinated drone attacks and targeted assassinations inside Russia. Kyiv has acknowledged using secret agents for this purpose, though it rarely claims responsibility. The BBC documentary provides rare firsthand accounts from operatives on the ground.

Key Perspectives

Ivan (Russian saboteur): Believes the Putin regime could fall if Russia loses the war, and his actions aim to speed that process. He claims to surveil military sites and hide drone components. Foma (exile network leader): Runs volunteer surveillance network targeting senior Russian officers. He insists his network only passes intelligence, not performs attacks. Ukrainian intelligence (GUR): Confirms both men work for them but acknowledges uncertainty about trust and the full picture. Critics/Skeptics: Impossible to verify all claims; the GUR itself is cautious. The operatives limit detail, making independent confirmation difficult.

What to Watch

Any confirmed reports of further high-profile assassinations or sabotage inside Russia.
Potential crackdown by Russian security services on resistance networks.
Impact on Russian public opinion and political stability.

Sources

Inside the shadowy world of anti-Putin sabotage from within Russia · BBC News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedTwo Russian men working for Ukraine described covert operations inside Russia.BBC News: “Two Russian men secretly working for Ukraine's intelligence services have given rare accounts of operations they claim to have been involved with, that have targeted military assets and personnel inside Russia.”
SupportedA BBC World Service documentary features rare accounts from two men who claim to target military assets.BBC News: “He features in a BBC World Service documentary about the shadowy world of Russian saboteurs.”
SupportedThe accounts include surveillance of senior military figures and preparation for possible drone attacks.BBC News: “His work, he told Mamon, involved surveilling military sites, and locating places to hide drone components, in preparation for potential attacks on Russian assets.”
SupportedIvan claims to have played a role in drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories in Russia.BBC News: “One of the men, whom we are calling Ivan, claims to have played a role from Russia in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories on his home soil.”
Partly supportedIvan hid drone components for potential strikes.BBC News: “His work, he told Mamon, involved surveilling military sites, and locating places to hide drone components, in preparation for potential attacks on Russian assets.”
Partly supportedFoma runs an undercover network in Russia that surveils high-level officers for the GUR.BBC News: “Foma runs a network of undercover volunteers in Russia, that surveils high-level officers that the GUR - Ukraine's military intelligence service - is considering targeting, he says.”
SupportedFoma says his network does not carry out attacks.BBC News: “He stresses they are never involved in the attacks themselves.”
SupportedAfter Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov was assassinated in Moscow in December 2025, Foma admitted providing intelligence about him.BBC News: “after Lt Gen Fanil Sarvarov was assassinated in December last year in Moscow , Foma admitted he had provided the Ukrainians with intelligence on him.”
SupportedThe GUR confirmed that Ivan and Foma work for the agency but said it cannot know the full picture.BBC News: “The GUR has confirmed that Ivan and Foma are both working for the agency. But it also has acknowledged that it cannot know the full picture.”
SupportedIvan's handler said, “I'm not sure of anyone, except myself.”BBC News: “When Ivan's handler was pressed on whether he could be trusted, the handler replied: "I'm not sure of anyone, except myself."”
SupportedThe men's claimed activities cannot be independently verified.BBC News: “both the GUR and the men are cautious about how much detail they share, making it impossible to verify the activities the men claim to have carried out.”
SupportedFoma estimated that about 300-500 Russians do similar work, but the figure cannot be verified.BBC News: “According to Foma, they number about 300-500, though this is impossible to verify.”