History of Russian espionage in the United States in Timeline

Russian espionage in the United States dates back to the Cold War and earlier, intensifying to Cold War levels by 2007. This activity primarily involves intelligence gathering, influence operations, and cyberattacks aimed at undermining U.S. interests and security. Key areas of focus include political institutions, military capabilities, and technological advancements. Notable incidents include espionage operations targeting nuclear secrets and attempts to interfere in U.S. elections. The U.S. government actively counteracts these efforts through intelligence agencies and law enforcement.

1954: KGB Established as Soviet Union's Main Security Agency

In 1954, the KGB was established as the main security agency for the Soviet Union. Its duties included intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, maintaining the secret police and border guards, suppressing internal resistance, and conducting electronic espionage.

1980: KGB Identifies Trump as an Asset

In 1980, Yuri Shvets believes that Semyon Kislin was a "spotter agent" who identified Trump as an asset for the KGB.

1987: Trump Visits the Soviet Union

In 1987, Donald Trump visited the Soviet Union. Yuri Shvets believes Trump was fed KGB talking points during the visit.

1987: KGB overtures to recruit agents

In 1987, Journalist Luke Harding argued that Trump's visit to the Soviet Union was arranged by the KGB as part of KGB overtures to recruit a wider variety of agents.

December 1991: Formation of the SVR

In December 1991, the SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service) was formed after the fragmentation of the KGB. The SVR replaced the KGB's overseas arm.

1991: Tretyakov in the SVR

In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sergei Tretyakov became a colonel in the SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service).

1991: KGB Break-up

In 1991, the KGB was dissolved due to the break-up of the Soviet Union. Its responsibilities were distributed among multiple subsidiary organizations.

1991: Reorganization of the KGB

In 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the KGB was reorganized into multiple subsidiary organizations, including the FSB (Federal Security Service), GRU (The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation), and SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service).

1992: Mitrokhin Archive Revealed

From 1992 to 1999, the Mitrokhin Archive was revealed, containing extensive evidence of Soviet spy networks' activities in America.

1992: Vasili Mitrokhin defected to Britain

In 1992, SVR officer Vasili Mitrokhin defected to Britain, describing details about thousands of Russian agents and intelligence officers, some of them "illegals" who live under deep cover abroad.

1994: Nicholson Started Passing Classified Information

From 1994 to 1996, Harold James Nicholson admitted to the passing of classified information to the SVR and was convicted of espionage.

1995: Tretyakov Oversees Covert Operations in New York

From 1995 to 2000, Sergei Tretyakov was responsible for all Russian covert operations in New York City and at the United Nations.

1995: Declassification of the Venona Project

In 1995, the Venona project was declassified by the Moynihan Commission. It contained extensive evidence of Soviet spy networks' activities in America.

1996: Arrest of Harold James Nicholson

In 1996, Harold James Nicholson was arrested inside Dulles Airport. He was found with a computer disc containing classified CIA files and ten rolls of film showing top secret documents. He admitted to passing classified information to the SVR.

1997: Tretyakov Begins Supplying Information

In 1997, Sergei Tretyakov may have begun supplying United States officials with Russian information.

1999: Mitrokhin Archive Revealed

From 1992 to 1999, the Mitrokhin Archive was revealed, containing extensive evidence of Soviet spy networks' activities in America.

October 2000: Defection of Sergei Tretyakov

In October 2000, Colonel Sergei Tretyakov, a Russian SVR officer, defected to the United States.

2000: FBI Learns of Russian Spies in the U.S.

In 2000, the FBI learned of multiple sets of Russian spies in the U.S., leading to the Illegals Program.

2007: Tretyakov Becomes US Citizen

In 2007, Sergei Tretyakov became a US citizen.

2007: Russian Espionage Reaches Cold War Levels

In 2007, according to the United States government, Russian espionage in the United States had reached Cold War levels, indicating a significant increase in activity.

June 2010: FBI Arrests Russian Agents in the Illegals Program

In June 2010, the FBI arrested 10 Russian agents in the U.S. and an eleventh in Cyprus, as part of a deep cover operation named the Illegals Program. They were charged with carrying out long-term assignments on behalf of the Russian Federation.

2010: Russian Agents used steganography to exchange information

During the Illegals Program up to 2010, Russian agents used steganography to exchange information, where concealed messages were inserted into otherwise innocuous files.

April 2015: Russian Hackers Penetrate White House Computers

In April 2015, CNN reported that "Russian hackers" had "penetrated sensitive parts of the White House" computers in "recent months." These attacks were categorized among the most sophisticated ever launched against US government systems.

2016: Russian Interference in US Presidential Election

During the 2016 US presidential election, there were numerous reports of Russian interference. The United States Intelligence Community found evidence of the Russian government interfering to hurt democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

2016: Butina Promotes Russian Interests During US Presidential Election

In 2016, Maria Butina tried to infiltrate conservative groups in the US, including the National Rifle Association of America, as part of an effort to promote Russian interests in the United States presidential election.

2016: GRU Involvement in US Election Interference

In 2016, the GRU (The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) was connected to hacking the DNC as part of election interference in the U.S.

2016: Russian Internet Research Agency influence operations in 2016 election

In 2016, the Russian Internet Research Agency played a significant role in spreading misinformation during the U.S. election. Their tactics included encouraging African American voters to boycott elections or follow incorrect procedures, urging extreme right-wing voters to be more confrontational, and distributing sensationalist and conspiratorial news to voters across the political spectrum.

May 2017: Mueller Investigates Russian Interference in Election

Starting in May 2017, former FBI Director Robert Mueller investigated the evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election and released a largely redacted 448-page report on his findings.

March 2018: Expulsion of Alleged Russian Spies from the US

In March 2018, the Trump administration ordered the expulsion of 60 alleged Russian spies from the United States following the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. The Russian consulate in Seattle was also ordered to close.

2018: Conviction of Maria Butina

In 2018, Maria Butina was convicted of acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the Russian Federation within the United States.

2019: GRU Cyberattack Campaign Started

A cybersecurity advisory from the NSA, FBI, CISA, and British NCSC warned in July 2021 of a GRU brute-force cyberattack campaign that started in mid-2019, against American government and private sector organizations, aimed at stealing data.

February 2020: Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes Charged

In February 2020, U.S. officials charged Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes in Miami for allegedly acting on behalf of a Russian agent to collect information about the US government.

2020: Russian Interference in 2020 U.S. presidential election

In 2020, Russia and Iran engaged in extensive efforts to shape the U.S. presidential election. These activities, as highlighted in a declassified DNI report released on March 16, 2021, focused on undermining President Biden's candidacy, supporting former President Trump, diminishing public trust in the electoral system, and exacerbating socio-political divisions. Russian intelligence agencies relied on proxies to disseminate misleading allegations against Biden.

2020: 2020 United States federal government data breach

The 2020 United States federal government data breach has been blamed on Russian state-backed hacker groups by most sources. The cyberattack and data breach were reported to be among the worst cyber-espionage incidents ever suffered by the U.S.

March 16, 2021: Declassified DNI report on Russian interference

On March 16, 2021, a declassified DNI report revealed Russia and Iran's broad efforts to influence the 2020 U.S. presidential election. While no direct changes to votes or registrations were found, Russia aimed to undermine President Biden, support former President Trump, erode electoral confidence, and deepen sociopolitical divisions by using proxies to spread misleading information.

May 2021: Peter Debbins Sentenced

In May 2021, the U.S. sentenced former Army Green Beret Peter Debbins to 188 months in jail for conspiring with Russian intelligence operatives to illegally provide them with U.S. national defense information.

July 1, 2021: Cybersecurity Advisory on GRU Cyberattack Campaign

On July 1, 2021, a cybersecurity advisory from the NSA, FBI, CISA, and British NCSC warned of a GRU brute-force cyberattack campaign against American government and private sector organizations, aimed at stealing data.

July 2021: Cybersecurity Advisory on GRU Cyberattack Campaign

In July 2021, a cybersecurity advisory from the NSA, FBI, CISA, and British NCSC warned of a GRU brute-force cyberattack campaign against American government and private sector organizations, aimed at stealing data.

July 2022: Arrest of Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison

In July 2022, U.S. officials arrested couple Walter Glenn Primrose (alias Bobby Edward Fort) and Gwynn Darle Morrison (alias Julie Lyn Montague), charging them with identity theft and conspiring against the government. They had assumed the identities of deceased U.S. children.