The CIA, the US intelligence agency, launched a television and social media campaign to recruit Russian citizens dissatisfied with the war in Ukraine and living conditions, asking them to be Washington’s “confidants”.
The campaign film, presented in “movie format”, is a “new attempt to take advantage” of what the intelligence services say is an “unprecedented” opportunity to convince disgruntled Russian citizens of the conflict in Ukraine, according to US television channel CNN.
The campaign material was posted to a CIA account on the Telegram application, a highly popular social network in Russia that disseminates information without any kind of journalistic or institutional confirmation.
The video, which ends with instructions to contact the CIA anonymously and securely, has also been published on several other digital platforms and social networks such as YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
CIA officials involved in the campaign told CNN that the Russian invasion of Ukraine created a “historic opportunity” for the “Russians to come and” provide information the United States needs.
“We want to tell the Russians in their own language that we know what they are dealing with,” said the CIA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The same source said the campaign film was not intended to be incendiary or to stir up unrest among the people of Russia, where head of state Vladimir Putin still enjoys strong public support.
Still, the campaign is aimed at the undecided and the images are intended to appeal to “Russian patriotism” and citizens who could be useful in informing the United States of the lack of reasons for the war and the oppression they endure in their own country. country. , indicated CNN.
Source: DN
