Russia deployed secret agents in Ukraine before the war.
An in-depth investigation has reportedly uncovered evidence of a long-running Kremlin operation to infiltrate the Ukrainian state with secret agents.
Five people familiar with Moscow’s preparations said Vladimir Putin’s war planners believed Russia would need only a small military force and a few days to oust Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from power.
The secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said Russia had agents in the Ukrainian defense, security and law enforcement sectors up until the time of the invasion.
Another source said Russian agents were stationed at the Chernobyl nuclear site last year to bribe officials and prepare for a bloodless audit.
However, they have not been able to independently verify these claims.