Russian spy network dismantled: Global operation reveals espionage web
The collaboration of counterintelligence services from eight countries led to the dismantling of a Russian spy network, whose agents, after changing their identities in Brazil, were operating in Portugal, among other places, Lisbon media reported on Friday.
As reported by SIC and CMTV stations, Russian services used Brazilian documents because the passport of this country enables easy travel around the world.
Since 2018, a Russian couple posing as Brazilians has been operating in Porto. According to Portuguese journalists, they quickly integrated into the local community.
The television claims that Vladimir and Ekaterina Danilov—like other Russian agents with fake Brazilian documents—were identified after the start of the war in Ukraine, when the West intensified intelligence cooperation.
In addition to Portugal and Brazil, services from the United States, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Uruguay, and Greece also participated.
It was the Greek counterintelligence, according to Brazilian television Globo, that first recognized Artem Shmyriev—a Russian spy hiding under the identity of Gerhard Wittich and living in Rio de Janeiro.
He operated a 3D printing business there, and his partner was a high-ranking official representing Brazil internationally.
Shmyriev disappeared during a trip to Malaysia with his partner. After his disappearance was reported to the services of other countries, it was revealed that he was a Russian agent previously identified by the Greeks.
