Ukraine's spy chief discusses role of escorts, double agents in interview
Ukrainian intelligence collaborates with sex workers and escort models to obtain exclusive information, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, confirmed in an interview with blogger Ramina Eshakzai.
Budanov explained that this method of intelligence gathering “exploits human weaknesses” to acquire information that would otherwise be inaccessible.
“You understand how much men sometimes reveal to show how powerful they are, as they say. And this is passed on to the right people,” the spymaster noted.
He also said that intelligence agencies cannot fully trust recruited agents, as they could potentially be “part of someone else’s game.”
“The percentage of provocateur agents or double agents is quite significant. There are especially many double agents, and they work equally well for both sides,” Budanov added.
Regarding “sleeper agents,” Budanov noted that global practice suggests their operations typically last up to seven years, after which their missions “almost certainly” fail. However, he added that some sleeper agents operate for 10–20 years.
When asked about the fate of “illegal” intelligence operatives after completing their missions, Budanov said they “quietly return to work somewhere.”
“They go into civilian life, engage in entrepreneurial activities, or, as is very trendy in many countries, join analytical centers,” he added.
In June 2023, blogger Oksana Voloshchuk (Ksyusha Maneken), a former escort, received an award from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.
DIU representative Andriy Yusov clarified that she assisted with information but was not involved in agent work.
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