When Russian troops crossed into Ukraine in February 2022, Western governments responded by throwing out hundreds of suspected Russian spies and cutting off firms linked to the Kremlin. The goal was to choke off Moscow’s ability to gather intelligence and get hold of parts such as microchips and transmitters needed for weapons production.
According to the New York Times, many of those expelled operatives resurfaced somewhere few would have expected: Japan.
The report says Japan’s loosely enforced espionage laws, combined with its advanced technology sector, have made it an important source for Russia’s military needs. Ukrainian government estimates cited by the NYT suggest that around 90 per cent of Russian missiles and drones contain parts made in Japan.
At the centre of this network, according to the NYT, is a little-known Russian military intelligence unit called the 20th Directorate. Its officers reportedly pose as diplomats or businesspeople while working to acquire or steal battlefield technology, then smuggle it back to Russia. This account comes from current and former officials across five Western intelligence agencies who spoke to the newspaper.
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