Dozens of Expelled Russian Spies Surface in Japan After 2022 Western Crackdown
Updated
Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 12
Dozens of Expelled Russian Spies Surface in Japan After 2022 Western Crackdown
3 articles · Updated · The Japan Times · Jul 12
Summary
Dozens of Russian operatives expelled from Western capitals after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine have resurfaced in Japan, officials said.
Hundreds of Russian spies were thrown out in the coordinated Western crackdown, which aimed to disrupt Kremlin intelligence networks and block procurement channels.
Japan has emerged as an unexpected destination for those displaced operatives as Russia seeks ways to keep collecting intelligence and sourcing restricted technology.
The shift underscores how pressure from sanctions and expulsions can reroute, rather than end, Russian espionage and weapons-supply efforts.