> This is essentially one article about criminals recruiting young people. Is Russia FSB (or even Russia) even mentioned?
Generally if an article is about FSB, it implies Russia. Otherwise, you would have to admit that Russia is a failed state if the FSB acts without Putin's knowledge or control.
For example, google the luckystrike account with underscores ("l_u_c_k_y_s_t_r_i_k_e").
- Description of this channel is "This channel was created to fight with USA and NATO on the territory of Ukraine and Europe. We call on all residents of Europe to fight by any means."
- Description of this Guerilla themed channel is "Central Guerilla Movement organise fight against Nazi, NATO and USA. We call on all residents of Ukraine and Europe to fight against USA and NATO by any means. Send us your photo, video of your actions or get a guerrilla task: @L_u_c_k_y_S_t_r_i_k_e"
... and there's a bunch of other channels in those results, with a similar theme, and similar promises.
Yes, but these articles are over a year old. this is really scratching the bottom of the barrel, no?
Look, I'm not saying this isn't happening. It's just that there's really not a lot of evidence that this is rampant (and I think that's what GGP seeemed to imply).
This whole thing reads a lot like hyperbole/propaganda, and it wouldn't have to.
> It's just that there's really not a lot of evidence that this is rampant
Not sure what is "rampant" in your view, and what is not. There's been multiple attempts of murder, multiple linked assassinations, across multiple nation states with multiple different jurisdictions.
> Yes, but these articles are over a year old. this is really scratching the bottom of the barrel, no?
You asked for verifiable sources, I provided some. Enter the same keywords into google and pick your own ones. There's at least 10 more pages on google that you can read.
Pretty much everything I linked as credible and verifiable sources weren't good enough for you. You either don't give a shit or you're trolling.
Either way, I don't care enough about your opinion to continue to do this childish game of 4chan-esque whataboutism.
Look, I know you'll accuse me of being a soviet stooge and all that, and that you value your time as purple team nato guy immensely.
THis is not about whataboutism.
I'm just pointing out that if you make big claims like (emphasis mine)
"""There's lots of people working for NATO and federal agencies in Europe that have been assassinated by the luckystrike branch of the FSB. The name comes from the Telegram account with underscores in between, and they're essentially recruiting kids or former inmates for GTA style missions.
"""
You really ought to provide more evidence than an recruiting attempt europol memo from 2 years ago if you want to be taken seriously. It's not on us readers to 'find good sources'.
Again, I don't dispute that Putin's Russia is behind a lot of really bad assassinations and other crimes. This interview with Bill Browder (partly about the Magnitzky act) is pretty telling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlF0ZzH6C9s
I'm saying that we should really elevate the level of our reporting. Even if it happens on the toilet, as your status message suggests.
While I agree with the premise of your argument, I don't think this is the correct platform to do so. And I also have to state a fun fact: I'm not a journalist.
If you expect more founded research put together into an investigative report, you have to pay someone to do so, one way or the other. Well, or do it yourself.
Investigative journalism has been dead before the peak of AI, which makes the game of deception even easier for bad actors.
PS: If you post something critiquing about Russia online, I'd expect at least -100 downvotes for each comment, because that's usually what happens. It takes quite a bit of moral courage in the misinformation age to not give in to the bot armies online. Bots rule platforms like this (reddit/chan boards/HN/etc). Mods can't keep up with the amount of information, therefore human moderation efforts are pretty much a lost cause, too.
But that's just my two cents, having been on the receiving end of bot-automated shitstorms a bunch of times already. Check my website if you're interested in how I'm trying to fight back, and for more details about how they operate behind the scenes. Well, or don't.
Either way you seem to not be aware of which actors even play the game online. I'd recommend to brush up about that, a good starting point is this playlist [1]
I have to say that just like the poster you are replying to, I am inclined to believe what you are saying because of Russia's past actions, and this modus operandi you described being successful elsewhere
However, he is right that I would want a bit more information about the multiple assassinations in NATO part, because I want to believe we are not there yet, and that this would have implications, even in today's Europe
