Volkov attack signals Russia’s return to cold war-era spying in Europe

Analysts report a greater professionalism in Russian operations. Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute thinktank, and two colleagues last month published an analysis of how the GRU has restructured operations after Ukraine. Key to their plans is reforming the operations of its 161 Centre, responsible for destabilisation abroad, along cold war lines to better train agents, known as “illegals”, who will be deployed into Europe under deep cover.