Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)according to an American newspaper investigation Washington Postactively participated in the preparation of a military invasion in Ukraine, making, among other things, many mistakes, especially convincing the Russian political leadership that after the start of the war, the Ukrainian authorities will not be able to resist for a long time.

The newspaper in its investigation titled “Russian spies misinterpreted Ukraine and misled the Kremlin as war loomed”notes that “confidential material obtained by Ukrainian and other security services provides a rare insight into the activities of Russia’s Federal Security Service, which bears enormous responsibility for Moscow’s failed military plan and the shame that fueled it.”

How does she write american newspaperhas been investigating the role of intelligence agencies in the preparations for war for several months, based on “a huge amount of confidential information, including intercepted communications from Russian intelligence officers, as well as in-depth interviews with senior Ukrainian, American and European officials.”

According to the investigation, the FSB department, known as Business Information Office, has been preparing its own pro-Russian intelligence network in Ukraine for several years. He informed the Russian leadership that power in Kyiv would collapse after the Russian invasion.

As the Washington Post points out, the FSB either underestimated the situation, or, knowing the real situation with Ukraine’s defense capability, did not dare to report this to Vladimir Putin.

The first version is supported by the fact that in the last days before the invasion 24 February FSB agents informed their agents in Kyiv of their deployment in the Ukrainian capital.

But then it turns out, according to the publication, that the FSB informants were ordered to leave Kyiv, but to hand over give the keys to their apartments to Russian agents.

According to an American newspaper investigation, it seems that they formed at least two groups of former Ukrainian officials and politicians under the auspices of the FSB, to form a government of Ukraine loyal to Moscow after the capture of Kyiv.

The ex-president of Ukraine was in the first group Victor Yanukovichwho was in Belarus in the first days after the invasion, and then a politician Victor Medvechuka well-known friend of Vladimir Putin, who was arrested in Ukraine.

A second similar group was created in the Russian-occupied southern part of Ukraine. Some elements among pro-Russian Ukrainians entered the occupation administrations in several regions, but a central “government” loyal to Moscow was never established.

The Washington Post also writes that despite repeated setbacks in Ukraine the heads of the FSB remain in their posts.

Sources: Washington Post, Freedom.org.