In Russia, it has been decided to revive the Soviet counterintelligence organization 'SMERSH,' and in early January 2024, images of Russian operatives wearing patches of this organization apparently surfaced in open sources.

The Ministry of Defence of Great Britain reported this on social media X.

Russian politicians announced the revival of 'SMERSH' at the end of 2023. As noted, this name is an acronym for the Russian phrase 'death to spies,' and it was created by Joseph Stalin, existing from 1941 to 1946. In the West, it became known through its fictional portrayal in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels.

In intelligence reports, it is noted that it is currently unclear whether the new name implies any significantly new powers or role for Russian counterintelligence or if it is simply a rebranding.

"However, this is yet another example of how the Russian authorities consciously frames the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in the spirit of the Second World War, and their strong focus on the supposed infiltration of external threats into the country," the department concludes.