Two Russian men, operating secretly within Russia and in exile, have provided rare accounts of their involvement in intelligence gathering and sabotage operations targeting Russian military assets and personnel, working with Ukraine's military intelligence service (GUR). The men, identified pseudonymously as Ivan and Foma, describe a shadowy world of internal resistance against President Vladimir Putin's regime and the war in Ukraine.

Ivan, who claims to have operated from within Russia, alleges he participated in Ukrainian drone attacks on strategic bombers and munitions factories on Russian soil. Foma, a Russian living in exile in Poland, leads a network of volunteers inside Russia tasked with surveilling high-level Russian officers whom the GUR is considering targeting. He emphasizes that his network is not involved in carrying out attacks but focuses solely on intelligence gathering.

Foma revealed that his network provided intelligence on Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who was assassinated in Moscow in December last year by an explosive device hidden under his car. The GUR has confirmed that both Ivan and Foma are working with the agency, though they acknowledge the inherent difficulties in verifying the full scope and accuracy of information provided by operatives. The GUR's handler admitted uncertainty about the trustworthiness of any operative, stating, "I'm not sure of anyone, except myself."

While the specific details of Ivan and Foma's alleged activities remain difficult to independently verify due to the clandestine nature of the operations and the cautious approach of all parties involved, the broad tactics described align with acknowledged Ukrainian strategies. Kyiv has spoken publicly about its use of coordinated drone attacks on targets within Russia and the employment of secret agents to support these operations.

This emerging picture of internal sabotage adds another layer to the ongoing conflict, suggesting a growing willingness within Russia to act against the Kremlin's war efforts. The GUR's acknowledgment of using such methods, coupled with previous reports of political assassinations within Russia since the start of the war, points to a complex and covert dimension of the conflict.

Ukraine's official policy is to neither confirm nor deny responsibility for targeted attacks within Russia. However, a Ukrainian intelligence officer previously admitted to the BBC that the agency was behind the killing of senior military figure Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov in December 2024. These actions underscore Ukraine's commitment to disrupting Russia's military capabilities through various means.

The exact number of Russians engaged in such work for Ukraine is difficult to ascertain. Foma estimates their numbers to be between 300 and 500, a figure that remains unverifiable. Both Ivan and Foma profess opposition not only to the war in Ukraine but also to President Putin's leadership, believing his political future is intrinsically linked to the war's outcome.

The BBC World Service documentary, "Shadowmen: Russians working with Ukraine," by independent Polish journalist Marcin Mamon, aims to shed light on this clandestine network. The men's motivations appear to stem from a deep-seated opposition to the current Russian leadership and its foreign policy, suggesting that the conflict is fostering a more active internal resistance.