Inside Putin’s most feared agency: how it led to the arrestment of a Wall Street journalist

Graphic by Seulhae Yoon

The DKRO (Department for Counterintelligence Operations), a division of the FSB, Russia’s Federal Security Service, gained significant attention following the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on March 23, 2023. Detained for 16 months, Gershkovich’s case unveiled critical information about the secretive organization and its role within Russian political and intelligence operations. His findings suggest that the DKRO operates as a tool of President Vladimir Putin's regime, enforcing extreme political repression.

Putin’s war in Ukraine has exacerbated this repression, with rising betrayals and mistrust leading to stricter enforcement policies. Gershkovich discovered that he, along with other U.S. citizens, including basketball star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, had been used by the DKRO as leverage in political negotiations. One such case involved an attempt to exchange Paul Whelan for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian assassin who eliminated a Kremlin adversary. The revelations highlight the DKRO’s deep entanglement in covert operations and its role in Putin’s broader strategy of control.

The DKRO is a highly secretive agency, unknown to the general public for many years, and no one from within the organization has ever defected to the West. Its unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin and its deeply rooted traditions mirror the tactics of its predecessor, SMERSH, a World War II-era counterintelligence agency founded by Joseph Stalin. SMERSH, which translates to “Death to Spies,” was notorious for its ruthless methods, including trapping and eliminating Nazi agents. Today, the DKRO’s modern counterpart, the FSB, continues these practices, with Lt. Gen. Dmitry Minaev playing a central role in the agency’s operations. Minaev is reported to have significant authority, selecting targets for arrest and orchestrating complex traps.

Inside the FSB headquarters, Putin is said to consistently demand an increase in arrests, emphasizing espionage and treason as high-priority offenses. FSB officers benefit from these activities, gaining power, influence, and career advancement through their loyalty and participation. The DKRO, however, is not limited to targeting foreigners. Its primary focus remains internal, where it serves as a mechanism for Putin to root out perceived threats and tighten his grip on power. The agency’s methods include interrogating individuals into cooperating as spies, sabotaging infrastructure, and gathering intelligence on government officials.

During the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the DKRO has been linked to operations aimed at destabilizing the country. These include sabotage missions targeting railroads and intelligence-gathering efforts directed at high-ranking officials. Ukrainian authorities have implicated Lt. Gen. Minaev in the 2017 car bombings in Kyiv that killed members of the military and domestic intelligence agencies, HUR and SBU. The ultimate goal of these operations was reportedly to assassinate Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, a plan that ultimately failed.

Although the DKRO ostensibly exists to protect Russia from foreign interference, its main focus lies on internal threats. This reflects Putin’s obsession with countering perceived spies and traitors, both within Russia and abroad. In a striking move, Putin even ordered a counterintelligence committee to investigate the DKRO itself, driven by fears of internal betrayal. This highlights the pervasive atmosphere of suspicion within the Kremlin, where loyalty is constantly tested, and civilian accomplices are often implicated.

Despite its controversial and often ruthless tactics, the DKRO remains a powerful arm of Russia’s security apparatus. With over 2,000 officers embedded in organizations rooted in Soviet-era intelligence practices, its influence is significant both domestically and internationally. As the world increasingly focuses on emerging fields such as cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, and economic manipulation, the DKRO’s role may face a turning point. While its traditional methods have ensured its effectiveness thus far, reliance on older practices could render it vulnerable to the demands of modern warfare.

The DKRO stands as one of Putin’s most potent tools for maintaining control over Russia and asserting influence on the global stage. Its tight grip on espionage and counterintelligence underscores its importance within Russia’s security infrastructure. However, as the landscape of global security evolves, the DKRO’s ability to adapt will determine whether it remains a cornerstone of Russian power or falters in the face of new challenges. Will its dominance in espionage persist, or will its reliance on traditional methods expose vulnerabilities in a rapidly modernizing world? The answer lies in how the DKRO balances its secretive traditions with the demands of contemporary warfare.