Share

Putin urges stronger protection of Russian military secrets

Share

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin urged Russia’s top domestic security agency on Wednesday to tighten its protection of information related to new weapons and other sensitive data.

In a speech to top officials of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, the main KGB successor agency, Putin said foreign spies have intensified their efforts to get access to Russia’s secrets.

“They are looking for access to political, economic, scientific and technological information,” said the KGB veteran who headed the FSB in the 1990s before ascending to the presidency. “That means that your work should become even more effective.”

The Russian leader noted that the FSB last year exposed 129 foreign intelligence officers and 465 of their agents.

He said the FSB should pay particular attention to protecting information related to the development, testing and production of new Russian weapons.

Putin has claimed that new weapons such as the Avangard and the Zircon hypersonic weapons have no foreign analogues and are impossible to intercept, rendering missile defense useless.

Russia has intensified efforts to modernize its arsenals as relations with the West have plummeted to post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In his speech Wednesday, Putin mentioned a buildup of NATO forces near Russia’s borders and referred to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, saying it upsets international security and raises new challenges.

He noted that foreign spy agencies have also sought to influence political developments in Russia, but didn’t elaborate.

Putin also pointed to a growing number of cyberattacks on government agencies and state-controlled companies.

“We must be prepared for continuing cyber offensive against Russia and the growing threats it presents,” he said. “It’s necessary to take additional steps to protect critically important information infrastructure, develop a state system of detecting cyberattacks and fending them off.”

Despite the tensions with the West, Putin noted that Moscow remains open for counterterrorism cooperation, calling it a “common challenge.”

The president said that the FSB prevented about 20 terror attacks a year over the past three years.

He noted the continuing instability in the Middle East, saying it spawns terror threats to Russia.

Related:
Supreme Court Deals a Blow to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, Green Lights Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit

Moscow has waged a military campaign in Syria since 2015, helping President Bashar Assad’s government reclaim control of most of the country.

The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
Share
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation