MOSCOW – Russia’s military intelligence chief who oversaw a series ofnotorious operations abroad has died after a long illness, with Moscowpraising him Thursday as a “great man” and a patriot.
Igor Korobov, 62, had headed the defence ministry’s Main IntelligenceDirectorate (GRU) since 2016 and was the target of US sanctions.
He died on Wednesday after a “long and serious illness,” the ministry said.
Korobov’s 57-year-old first deputy, Vice Admiral Igor Kostyukov, has beenappointed acting GRU chief and is likely become his successor, state newsagency TASS said, citing a military source.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed his condolences.
“The dear memory of this great man, a faithful Russian son and a patriot ofthe Motherland… will remain forever in our hearts,” the defence ministrysaid in a statement.
The West has accused the powerful agency of carrying out a number ofattacks on foreign soil, including the poisoning of former Russian spySergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Soviet-designed nerve agent inBritain in March.
Washington has said the GRU was directly involved in interfering in the2016 US election through “cyber-enabled activities”, while the Netherlandshas said they had thwarted a GRU attack on the OPCW global chemical weaponswatchdog.
Russia has denied the charges.
– First seaman as chief? –
Korobov did not participate in a gala marking the centenary of the servicein early November when Russian President Vladimir Putin heaped praise onthe GRU.
Korobov’s first deputy Kostyukov, who is thought to be in charge ofRussia’s Syria operations at the GRU, reportedly presided over the ceremony.
“If he is appointed, then he will be the first naval seaman in the historyof the GRU to become a military intelligence chief,” TASS quoted its sourceas saying.
Korobov, who joined military intelligence in 1985, received the Hero ofRussia decoration for his service.
Independent military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer described Korobov as an”intellectual” who spoke several foreign languages.
He was hard-pressed to say whether his successor would usher in anychanges, saying the GRU reported to Chief of General Staff ValeryGerasimov, Shoigu and Putin.
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“It looks like there are no any major changes on the horizon,” he told AFP.
Korobov’s predecessor, Igor Sergun, died unexpectedly in January 2016. Somereports said he was killed in Lebanon while on a mission.
Many analysts have derided the GRU for a series of recent blundersincluding the attack on the Skripals in Salisbury that also killed aBritish woman and poisoned her partner.
London identified the suspected attackers as GRU agents. After Putinpublicly urged them to appear on television, they told state-funded RTchannel they travelled to the British city as tourists to admire its famouscathedral.
The same month Korobov was reportedly summoned by Putin and felt unwellafterwards.
– ‘Professionalism and bravery’ –
But at the November gala, Putin praised the agency’s “unique capabilities,”saying Russian military spies helped turn around the war in Syria.
“I am sure of your professionalism, personal bravery and decisiveness. Thateach of you will do everything for Russia and our people,” he told the GRUstaff.
The GRU is one of Moscow’s three spy agencies, along with the SVR foreignintelligence agency and the FSB security service.
Established in 1918, the GRU was considered a rival to the KGB in theSoviet era.
It has an extensive spy network abroad and its highly trained “spetsnaz”special forces have fought in various conflicts, including in Afghanistanand Chechnya. It is also believed to be active in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Very little is known about the agency. Its structure, staff numbers andfinances are a state secret. Its emblem is a black bat flying above a globe.
Several top GRU agents have defected to the West. – APP / AFP
