The DKRO (Департамент контрразведывательных операций) is part of the FSB (федеральная служба безопасности) and conducts the counterintelligence aspect of the FSB’s repertoire. Also known as The First Service, the DKRO is the successor of the KGB’s second Chief Directorate, which was responsible for discovering counterintelligence operations, recruiting foreign agents, and ensuring the safety of Soviet citizens and foreigners within the USSR. The DKRO is composed of about 2,000 members. It locates, apprehends, and combats intelligence operators and enemies as defined by the Russian state. The DKRO is broken down into different regional sectors with DKRO-1 focusing on the United States and Canada.
(H2) 1.0 The Symbols and History of the DKRO
(H3) 1.1 Symbols
While the DKRO is a part of the FSB, they also have their own insignia which models the FSB’s. This insignia utilizes the double headed eagle crest which is overlaid on the Russian flag. The DKRO has also utilized the designation “Military Unit No 97740.” This military unit number is a shorthand way to identify the DKRO as a government unit. The officers of the DKRO have a “carte blanche” when it comes to counteracting intelligence operations. This organization predominately utilizes the narrative of treason or spy activity in order to convict individuals. [source, source, source, source]
Source: agentura.ru
(H3) 1.2 The Rise of the DKRO
The roots of the DKRO lie in the KGB and previous intelligence gathering under the Soviet Union. The acronym DKRO began to be used in 1998 after Boris Yeltsin split the KGB into smaller departments. DKRO operations are a continuation of the activities of the KGBs Second Chief Directorate. The DKRO’s historical and present focus is on identifying spies and enemies of the Russian state both within Russia and abroad.
While the DKRO is not a clandestine agency, its operations are. The existence of the DKRO as part of the FSB is known and not purposely hidden by the Russian state. The DKRO’s work has predominantly focused on journalists, diplomatic and embassy affiliates and staff, and military personnel. The DKRO uses surveillance strategies, technical methods, and psychological warfare in order to maintain control over the domestic situation in Russia. There have been multiple documented incidents of tailings, rearranged homes, and cigarettes left in personal bathrooms as warning signs of the DKRO’s movements. [source, source, source]
The DKRO also has more involved methods which include detainment, prosecution, and repression. The DKRO has contributed to the repression of dissidents within Russia and has also led counterespionage investigations in other Russian agencies. Just as the KGB, the DKRO tends to operate under the premise that any foreigner is a potential spy. Spies that are arrested by the DKRO and later sentenced predominantly come from countries that Russia has turbulent relations with as well as journalists and those in diplomatic positions. Convicted spies are then sometimes used in prisoner swaps. These prisoner swaps serve as an incentive to find certain spies which have historically included US Marines and journalists. The DKRO has become a prominent member of the Russian security apparatus and has spread its influence over the entirety of Russia. [source, source]
(H2) 2.0 The DKRO as an Organisation
(H3) 2.1 Bureaucratic Workings
The DKRO is the counterintelligence directorate of the FSB. Although the DKRO has its own management, it is also overseen by the head of the FSB. The officers of the DKRO boast special privileges, including high salaries, low-cost mortgages, and vacation time at Russia’s best resorts. [source, source]
Although the DKRO is the organization in charge of identifying and apprehending assumed spies, the DKRO itself does not complete the prosecution of these individuals. Instead, the FSB, which has jurisdiction over espionage trials, completes these trials in secret with special judges and personnel. However, since Putin’s time in power, not a single espionage trial has ended in an acquittal. The reported number of spies caught, which include both foreign and domestic, has increased rapidly over the past decade. [source, source]
(H3) 2.2 Key Figures
Dmitri Minaev: The leader of the DRKO
Source: agentura.ru
Vladislav Menshchikov: The leader of the FSB and overseer of the DKRO
Source: slidstvo.info
(H3) 2.3 Recruitment
Domestic Hires
The DKRO’s official staff are mainly recruited from the top performing officers and staff at the FSB. FSB officers graduate from the FSB academy, which is like the CIA’s Farm. [source, source, source]
Informants
The DKRO has utilized coercion in the past in an attempt to glean further information from individuals not affiliated with the DKRO or the FSB or in order to expand their network of informants; these individuals often come from Russian universities, think tanks, and other leading research institutions. More recently, the FSB has used social networks and instant messaging applications to recruit spies and informants who have access to information that is not readily available. The FSB itself has also targeted activists and other Russian nationals to serve as informal spies. [source, source, source, source]
Foreign Action
The DKRO increasingly runs and recruits spies on foreign soil, particularly Eastern Europe. Operations on foreign soil include sabotage of infrastructure and the cultivating of foreign spies and contacts. Outside of missions on foreign soil, the DKRO infiltrates embassies and consulates in Russia through recruited informants. Beyond those working in the diplomatic sphere, the DKRO also recruits Russian foreign experts who are invited to different embassies and events located in Russia. [source, source, source]
(H3) 2.4 Informant Connections
The FSB and DKRO have an extensive network of informal informants and contacts throughout the think tank analysis and international relations domain; for example, Ruslan Pukhov, the head of the Centre for Analysis of Strategic Technologies. Pukhov has many Western diplomatic connections but has also been identified as an informant to the DKRO by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Agency. Pukhov is also allegedly connected with the GRU/GU. He uses his position as the head of his think tank, and past connections, to gain entry to certain events and report on the attendants and contents of conversations to his handler, Alexander Vinnichenko. This kind of dynamic exists with many universities, think tanks, and other entities and some submit reports detailing meetings with foreigners. [source, source]
Source: russiancouncil.ru
The media and other artistic individuals and organizations are seen as unique threats by the FSB and consequently the DKRO. This concern goes for both domestic and foreign journalists and artists. This has led to the cultivation of surveillance networks over these sectors and the development of “black lists.” This list is meant to identify potential dissenters in an attempt to prevent further crimes against the state. This type of counterintelligence operation is common practice in the DKRO and allows the DKRO to control certain forms of expression without following the investigation with a criminal case. [source, source]
(H2) 3.0 The Future
In 2024, Putin approved the allocation of a third of Russia’s budget for defense spending. Draft budget proposals for the coming years also demonstrate significant increases. This is not a trend that is likely to diminish and signals that the future power and budget of defense and security apparatuses, like the FSB and subsequently the DKRO, will likely continue to increase as the conflict with Ukraine continues and Putin feels more isolated. [source, source]
The recent spate of exposure and arrests of Russian spies and assets in Europe and North America put pressure on all of Russia’s intelligence agencies. The FSB has turned to conducting espionage through civilian spies that have access to events and information that the FSB is interested in. Meanwhile, arrests made in Russia under the treason and espionage statutes have increased since the invasion of Ukraine. This trend facilitates prisoner swaps. As more Russian spies and assets are seized, prisoner swaps may become a more common tactic. [source, source]
(H2) 4.0 Conclusion
The DKRO is a specialized unit of the FSB that handles questions of espionage and counterintelligence on Russian soil. The DKRO’s main activities include surveillance and information gathering. The DKRO monitors the whereabouts and actions of foreigners in Russia and uses psychological pressure techniques to maintain control over the movements of foreigners. Outside of anonymous surveillance of foreigners, the DKRO leverages the anonymity of its organization and members to widen its informal pool of informants both within Russia and Russian experts that travel abroad.
The DKRO does not only specialize in the monitoring of foreigners but also works to apprehend individuals suspected and charged with espionage. Once the DKRO charges an individual with espionage, their case is heard by the FSB, and they are often found guilty. The DKRO’s focus on counterintelligence and anonymity allows it to specialize on the movements of certain organizations and individuals to grow its intelligence network and leverage its position in the Russian government to further repress any negative sentiment.
(H2) 5.0 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between the FSB and the DKRO?
The DKRO is a part of the FSB and specializes in intelligence collection and analysis. The FSB is the main intelligence and security apparatus of the Russian government. The DKRO is an agency that is overseen by the FSB and focuses on counterintelligence and surveillance measures. This agency primarily operates within Russia and is tasked with identifying, locating, and surveying potential spies.
What is the difference between the DKRO and the KGB?
The KGB is a historical agency. It was active from 1954 to 1991 and its responsibilities encompassed both domestic and national security and intelligence gathering and analysis. The DKRO is a subagency of the intelligence apparatus of Russia and was founded after the fall of the Soviet Union. Its main concern is the monitoring of foreigners and counterintelligence. [source]
