Japan Becomes a Nest for Kremlin Spies After Expulsions from West
After Western countries expelled hundreds of Russian spies following the Ukraine invasion, many have resurfaced in Japan, according to Japan Times.
Shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western leaders expelled hundreds of Moscow's spies from their capitals and blacklisted companies linked to the Kremlin. Since then, as officials note, dozens of these expelled spies have appeared in an unexpected place—Japan, reports the Japan Times.
According to the portal, Russian intelligence officers previously operating in Europe or the US have now been redeployed to Japan. This comes despite Tokyo being a staunch US ally and actively supporting Ukraine. Japanese officials say Moscow is trying to compensate for its losses in the West by intensifying intelligence activities in Asia.
This development raises concerns for Japan's security, as the Russian spy network may attempt to gather information on Japan's military technologies and its cooperation with the US and other allies. Experts point out that Japan, which has traditionally not been as active in counterintelligence as Western countries, could become an easier target for Russian intelligence services.
Although Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia and provides support to Ukraine, it still maintains diplomatic relations with Moscow. This makes the country an attractive destination for Russian spies operating under diplomatic cover. The situation demands heightened vigilance from Japanese security services and closer cooperation with Western partners to neutralize potential threats.
