Russian officials have spent millions on anti-eavesdropping measures
Russian officials and government agencies are actively purchasing anti-eavesdropping systems. Over the past two years, they have spent at least 20 million rubles on such equipment, according to Mash, citing government procurement data.
Two types of devices are purchased most frequently. A vibration generator is installed on windows—it creates vibrations that make it more difficult to pick up sound through the glass. An acoustic emitter is placed near doors, vents, or the ceiling, where it generates noise that prevents the recording of conversations.
The equipment must be manufactured in Russia, and suppliers must hold the appropriate licenses to handle information classified as a state secret.
Bashkortostan spent the most on anti-eavesdropping measures—1.1 million rubles. The Russian Academy of Sciences purchased such equipment for 666,000 rubles, the Far Eastern Customs Administration for 500,000 rubles, and the Bryansk Regional Duma for 400,000 rubles.
At the same time, a number of these regions and institutions have been involved in high-profile corruption cases in recent years. In particular, Alan Marzaev, the former acting deputy prime minister of Bashkortostan, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for accepting a bribe of 37 million rubles. In the Bryansk region, investigations were conducted into cases involving officials linked to losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rubles. At the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), former Vice President Konstantin Solntsev was found guilty of embezzling 168.7 million rubles.
Vladimir Putin likely decided to further escalate the war after several weeks of deliberation over the summer. According to The Economist, the Russian dictator may be seeking to preserve his power and his life through escalation.
As a reminder, on the afternoon of August 30, Russian troops attacked Kyiv with strike drones. Explosions were heard in the capital, and air defense forces engaged enemy targets.
