In brief
The metaverse‑ready piece follows two Russian men—‘Ivan’ and ‘Foma’—who claim to work for Ukraine’s intelligence, detailing covert operations inside Russia. They are alleged to coordinate drone strikes, surveil senior officers, and provide intel on state‑level targets, all while evading Russian security. Ukrainian authorities admit use of secret agents, but the authenticity of claims remains unverified. The narrative explores the blurred lines of loyalty, the personal risk these operatives face, and the implications for the wider conflict.
Two Russian men, operating covertly under Ukraine’s military intelligence, have given unprecedented insight into a shadow network that scours the Russian interior for assets to be struck by drones.
Named Ivan and Foma in the BBC documentary, the men claim they coordinate surveillance‑teams, map out high‑profile targets, and provide Ukraine with the final green light for attacks. Ivan describes secretly hiding explosives near a military airfield and filming the scene for the Ukrainian Chief of Staff. In a separate briefing, Foma taught a step‑by‑step guide to idolizing a senior Russian officer’s travel routine, aiming to give Ukrainian operatives a clear kill plan.
Although Ukraine refuses to officially admit responsibility for orchestrated gun‑shot events, Kyiv has publicly acknowledged a “coordinated drone strategy” on strategic sites inside Russia. The men’s accounts echo these claims, but the Ukrainian National Intelligence Service has denied any “single source” confirmation of these actions.
For Ivan, the risk is tangible. He recalls a car stop where he had a homemade explosive in his luggage—an instance that could have cost him decades behind bars. Foma explains that his volunteers receive a dossier: photo, age, vehicle details, bullet‑points of contact list and instructions not to use a phone while approaching the target.
The network’s size is contested. Foma estimates 300‑500 operatives worldwide, while Ukrainian officials warn they cannot confirm numbers. The uncertainty fuels speculation about the network’s breadth and the extent to which it might be integrated into broader military intelligence.
The rigid “no clear structure” approach, Ivan explains, guarantees anonymity, but it also forces operatives to rely on individual discretion. However, this loose‑faction method also increases the likelihood of infiltration by Russian security services—a threat that Ivan admits he has confronted time and again.
If the stories hold, the covert network could be the fastest growing component of Ukraine’s modern warfare, blurring the line between cyber‑support and on‑the‑ground sabotage. Whether that under‑the‑radar activity influences the war’s strategic calculus remains to be seen, but the narrative reveals the resilience of Russians who refuse to see the conflict from only one side.
