The video's narrator contemplates his 35th birthday, the legacy of his father, who served as a Russian paratrooper, and whether he has “the courage to stand against this betrayal.”

The CIA released another video Monday appealing to Russians disillusioned with the country’s leaders, offering them a way to pass secrets to the American spy agency.

Titled “Why I contacted CIA: the motherland,” the Russian-language video, posted on Telegram and other social media platforms, attempts to connect with Russians’ sense of patriotism and the disparity between soldiers’ making sacrifices on the battlefield and the comfortable lives of the country’s elites.

The CIA posted two similar videos last year on social media.

“We are seeing more outreach from Russians as a result of these videos,” a CIA spokesperson said. “If it weren’t working, we wouldn’t be on video number three.”

  • Rentlar@lemmy.caEnglish
    6·
    10 months ago
    Ad Transcript, (Ру)

    Почему я связался с ЦРУ: Ради Родины

    Сегодня мне исполнилось тридцать пять. столько же было отцу, когда он погиб. В голове бесконечные мысли: Улыбаюсь жене, сыну… А внутри вопрос: хватит ли мне смелости, чтобы противостоять этому предательству? отец был практичным человеком, верил в Россию, Рассказывал о Космонавтах, и достижениях науки, которыми восхищадся весь мир.

    Был десантником. Когда мне было пятнадцать, Мама повезла меня в Москву. На Мой Первый парад Победы на Красной Площади. И вдруг я увидел их - Годовые береты свою дальнейшую судьбу… Я гордился службой в ВДВ. Если Бы не авария, то и сейчас держал бы в руках автомат. В ГРУ я нашел новый путь служить своей стране… По крайней мере, я так думал.

    Однако сково осознал, что истинный враг России - внутри неё самой. Верхушка продала страну за дворцы и яхты, в то время как наши солдаты жуют гнидую картошку и стреляют из допотопного оружия. Наши люди вынуждены давать взятки для того чтобы просто найти работу, а элита, в басносдовно дорогих часах, коротает время, пока коррупция и кумовство разъедает моё страну изнутри.

    Я прозрел. Во мне пробудился дух патриота, призывающий к действию. Вспоминаю слова Толстого: “Каждый мечтает изменить мир, но никто не ставит целью изменить самого себя”. Что завещал мне отец, я передам сыну - желание, чтобы русский народ процветал, и раскрыл свой потенциал. Я был рожден для этой борьбы - борьбы с внутренним врагом.

    Я не потерял надежды. Я не бессилен. Мой сын - это будущее России. Я хочу, чтобы он жил в России, о которой мы мечтали, и в которой честный труд и смелость ценят больше, чем связи. Мое желание - уберечь Россию. Я стану искрой правды - ради сына.

    Люди, Которые вас окружают, возможно не хотят слышать правду. Мы хотим. Вы не бессильны. Свяжитесь с нами безопасным образом.

    Ad Transcript, (En)

    Why I contacted the CIA: For the sake of the Motherland

    Today I turned thirty-five. Father was the same age when he died. There are endless thoughts in my head: I smile at my wife, my son… But inside the question: will I have enough courage to resist this betrayal? my father was a practical man, believed in Russia, talked about the Cosmonauts, and the achievements of science, which the whole world admired.

    Was a paratrooper. When I was fifteen, Mom took me to Moscow. At My First Victory Parade on Red Square. And suddenly I saw them - Annual berets of their future destiny… I was proud of my service in the Airborne Forces. If it weren’t for the accident, I would still be holding a machine gun in my hands. In the GRU I found a new way to serve my country… Or so I thought.

    However, he quickly realized that the true enemy of Russia is within itself. The elite sold the country for palaces and yachts, while our soldiers chew rotten potatoes and shoot from antediluvian weapons. Our people are forced to pay bribes just to find work, and the elite, wearing fabulously expensive watches, while away the time while corruption and nepotism are corroding my country from the inside.

    I have received my sight. The spirit of a patriot awakened in me, calling for action. I remember the words of Tolstoy: “Everyone dreams of changing the world, but no one sets the goal of changing himself.” What my father bequeathed to me, I will pass on to my son - the desire for the Russian people to prosper and reveal their potential. I was born for this fight - the fight against the internal enemy.

    I haven’t lost hope. I’m not powerless. My son is the future of Russia. I want him to live in the Russia we dreamed of, and in which honest work and courage are valued more than connections. My desire is to save Russia. I will become a spark of truth - for the sake of my son.

    The people who surround you may not want to hear the truth. We want. You are not powerless. Contact us securely.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    6·
    10 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    The CIA released another video Monday appealing to Russians disillusioned with the country’s leaders, offering them a way to pass secrets to the American spy agency.

    Titled “Why I contacted CIA: the motherland,” the Russian-language video, posted on Telegram and other social media platforms, attempts to connect with Russians’ sense of patriotism and the disparity between soldiers’ making sacrifices on the battlefield and the comfortable lives of the country’s elites.

    CIA Director William Burns has described the turmoil caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” for the agency to recruit Russian spies.

    The latest highly produced video, accompanied by stirring music, features an unnamed narrator contemplating his 35th birthday, the legacy of his father, who served as a Russian paratrooper, and whether he has “the courage to stand against this betrayal.”

    “Our leaders sell out the country for palaces and yachts while our soldiers chew rotten potatoes and fire ancient weapons,” he says.

    At the end of the video, the narrator decides he will honor his father’s example and build a future for his son, contacting the CIA secretly on his mobile phone.

    The original article contains 390 words, the summary contains 187 words. Saved 52%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
    222·
    10 months ago

    … that’s great and all, but pretty much anyone can be a social media influencer. How about some actual counter-intelligence work, that most of us couldn’t actually do?

    I wouldn’t mind hearing about some more Russian spies getting caught, if they really want to earn their pay.

    • Deceptichum@kbin.social
      191·
      10 months ago

      It’s not like they’re just sitting there on their arse this whole time. Ukraine is being fed a shit load of intelligence to help support them, for obvious reasons this isn’t going to be publicly announced each time they do.

        • Cinner@lemmy.worldBEnglish
          91·
          10 months ago

          Their counter-intel is fine. This is a public campaign designed to generate awareness and make as many people aware as possible. They see the uprising. HUMINT from thousands of widowed women may give them valuable information that otherwise could’ve slipped past.

          • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
            33·
            10 months ago

            Fair point. Though I still do not think their “counter-intel is fine”. Ukrainian counter-intel appears strong, but ours is lacking, unless you count the work of journalists. The work of civilians like Christo Grozev should not be necessary though.

            • Cinner@lemmy.worldBEnglish
              41·
              10 months ago

              You only hear about their failures and campaigns they want you to hear about. Like when Trump gave up info that outed some of our top Russian spies, and like this.

              • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
                23·
                10 months ago

                I am well aware that much of the work occurs behind the scenes. However, that does not excuse numerous failures. I am not willing to simply give them the benefit of the doubt and my trust, a position that I simply find prudent. They are an agency of my democratic government, and we should pay attention and be critical.

      • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
        26·
        10 months ago

        I’m saying that very few of our institutions have the resources and experience necessary to fight back against any form of espionage. Our intelligence agencies do, so I would appreciate a pivot from intelligence-gathering and destabilization operations, which are a part of their mission, to counter-intelligence against our rivals, which is also part of their mission. This seems to have been neglected, given how Russian spies have managed to perform assassinations in the west, become Italian admirals and German fintech CEOs, and do on-the-ground surveillance in Ukraine in support of their invasion.

        I am deeply disappointed in our CIA these days. Their intelligence gathering is fine, but they should be protecting us as well.

          • jordanlund@lemmy.worldMEnglish
            4·
            10 months ago

            Lots of rule 5 violations today. People need to take a step back. Moon phase? Something in the air?

            Rule 5: Keep it civil. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (perjorative, perjorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (perjorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect!

          • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            10 months ago

            Counter-intelligence work does not require one to move to China or Russia when the targets that need detection are not operating in China or Russia.