Over the past three and a half years of war in Ukraine, global attention has largely focused on the eastern and southern front lines. However, since 2022, a parallel and covert war has been unfolding — a high-stakes battle between the intelligence agencies of Ukraine and Russia, with deep ramifications for the trajectory of the conflict, Rks News reports.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) have conducted numerous operations targeting Russian military assets. These operations have struck strategic sites in Donbas, Crimea, the outskirts of Moscow, and even Siberian rail lines. Such precise strikes wouldn’t have been possible without the support and cooperation of the U.S. CIA, which has been instrumental in training a new generation of Ukrainian intelligence operatives — young, patriotic, and staunchly anti-Russian.
A key force in this secret war is Unit 2245, known for its daring missions, and Kyrylo Budanov, who has emerged as a central figure in Ukraine’s intelligence strategy. The U.S. training initiative, codenamed “Golden Fish Operation”, equipped Ukrainian agents with advanced infiltration techniques and cutting-edge intelligence tools.
In 2022, following internal purges at the SBU — including the removal of its former head Ivan Bakanov over suspicions of internal sabotage — the agency was revitalized under the leadership of Vasyl Malyuk. He masterminded Operation Spider Web, one of the most effective strikes against Russian military installations to date.
This hidden intelligence war, largely unknown to the broader public, is playing a decisive role in Ukraine’s defense and resilience, helping shape the outcome of a long and deeply complex conflict with Russia.
