GRU

The GRU (Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) is Russia's military intelligence agency. It is distinct from other Russian intelligence services like the FSB and SVR, focusing specifically on military intelligence operations, including espionage, cyber warfare, and special operations. The GRU is in the news due to several recent events. First, suspects have been identified in the shooting of Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alexeyev, a high-ranking GRU official. Second, Germany has accused the GRU of a cyberattack on its air traffic control system in August 2024 and attempted electoral interference. Finally, the GRU has been linked to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning in the UK, with a public inquiry finding President Putin morally responsible for the death of a British citizen in that attack. These events highlight the GRU's continued involvement in aggressive intelligence operations and its significance as a key instrument of Russian foreign policy and military strategy.