Tradecraft, Tactics, and Dirty Tricks

Unmask the shadowy world of Russian espionage with this riveting exploration of the Russian Intelligence Services (RIS) and their global clandestine operations. With decades of experience as a CIA operations officer, author Sean M. Wiswesser takes listeners deep into the heart of Maskirovka―the Russian art of denial, deception, and manipulation. Using historical examples and firsthand accounts, this book reveals the tactics employed by the three main services of Russia's intelligence apparatus: the SVR, GRU, and FSB. Learn about the use of double agents, surveillance, and "street work," honeytraps, sabotage, active measures, assassinations, the RIS roles in the Russo-Ukraine War, and much more. Wiswesser's unparalleled expertise comes from years of sitting across from Russian intelligence officers, operating overseas, and using their own methods against them. As a member of the CIA's expert cadre in the Directorate of Operations, he worked closely with the US intelligence community and foreign allies, gaining a unique perspective on the RIS' global reach. Now, he shares that knowledge in a candid, plain-speaking style designed to inform listeners from all walks of life.

This book is a toolkit for understanding and countering the RIS' manipulative tactics. Wiswesser breaks down ten key elements of their tradecraft, offering invaluable insights to intelligence professionals, academics, business leaders, NGO workers, and private citizens alike. With a deep grounding in Russian language, culture, and intelligence traditions, he provides listeners with the context they need to grasp the RIS' methods and motivations. Whether you're a practitioner in the field or simply curious about the world of espionage, the author's narrative will open your eyes to the global threat posed by Russian intelligence and equip you with the knowledge to recognize and resist their tactics.