What does the appearance of natives of Belarus in a Russian special unit for particularly important operations and secret assassinations mean?

In the 2014 photo, Siarhei Radkevich – now the commander of the intelligence department of the super-secret Russian 'Center 795'. Photo from his social networks

In the photo above – the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship, Minsk. A sporty man in a 'Russia' T-shirt is embraced by another trained young man. Siarhei Radkevich previously served in the Belarusian 'Alpha', and is now the commander of the intelligence department of the super-secret Russian 'Center 795'.

Around 500 officers serve in 'Center 795' – a size comparable to the special services of a medium-sized European state. It was created after the attack on Ukraine. Elite forces from the GRU and FSB were assembled within it. It was established as a super-secret and completely autonomous structure, intended for the most important operations – ranging from military actions in Ukraine to political assassinations and kidnappings abroad. The need for such a structure arose after a series of failures in the GRU, when its employees were exposed during terrorist attacks in various countries.

Павялічыць

Siarhei Radkevich (right) with Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, 2023.

And in this photo, Siarhei Radkevich (right) is with Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. This is 2023, Medvedev is visiting an enterprise of the Kalashnikov concern.

The Insider managed to identify all key leaders and sponsors of this Center 795, determine its location and main areas of its activity. The publication appeared after one of the officers was arrested in Colombia on charges of organizing the kidnapping of several political opponents of Putin. This officer failed because he used Google Translate to communicate with his agent.

Center 795 is based on the structure of the Russian Kalashnikov concern.

On Siarhei Radkevich's social media pages, there is a photo from 2018 where he (second from right) was already socializing with the Kalashnikov crowd at the EEO2018 competitions in the Czech Republic.

Павялічыць

In phone books, he appears as "Radkevich Siarhei Aliaksandravich", but also Supkin Serge, Siarhei Radik, "radik" Siarhei Radkevich, Serge Radd, Serge Ot Alana Zhilety, Belarus Alpha Siarhei, Glock Siarhei, Kalashnikov Concern Siarhei, Patriot Siarhei, Radkevich Siarhei Kalashnikov, ChOO Varyag — Radkevich Siarhei Aliaksandravich, Radkevich Betsiti".

His hobbies are typical for Russian and pro-Russian security officials of this generation: besides shooting, it's motorcycles.

Павялічыць

For Belarusians, it is significant in this story that natives of the Belarusian 'Alpha' also serve in 'Center 795', a Russian special unit. And not in minor positions. Siarhei Radkevich is the head of the intelligence department there. And Dzmitry Drazdou is even the chief of staff.

It is found online that these two officers now have Russian passports.

Павялічыць

Siarhei Radkevich on his wedding day, 2017. Photo from his social networks

Dzmitry Drazdou, a native of Minsk, received a Russian passport on January 22, 2019, in Moscow. And Siarhei Radkevich – on January 25, 2019, also in Moscow (Radkevich, by the way, is a native of Kharkiv, which his associates have been bombing for four years now).

The synchronicity of their passport acquisition is noteworthy – they simultaneously decided to transfer to service in Russia.

The very fact that they are Russian citizens is also significant. This means that it is not about an integrated Belarusian-Russian structure. It means they simply changed their state for another. If it were an integrated structure, they would most likely have remained citizens of Belarus.

What does the fact of staffing a top Russian special service with natives of the Belarusian KGB mean? Nasha Niva posed this question to Lieutenant Colonel Stanislau Lupanosa, who worked in the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs until 2020, and then joined "Bypol".

"This is the first time such a fact has become known," says Stanislau Lupanosa. "Previously, for Belarusians, there was only Belarus, their own employees were only for themselves. Apparently, the situation has changed. And Russia has started to attract our specialists, especially since our specialists have always been valued in Russia."

What motivates natives of Belarusian security structures to get hired by Russia?

"It's money, good salaries, poaching, commercial interest," believes Lieutenant Colonel Lupanosa.

Did this happen with Lukashenka's consent?

"I think they don't ask for consent, but the leadership cannot be unaware. It's noteworthy that the 'Alpha' officer, born in 1983, is still young and could still be working in the authorities here. He received a Russian passport when he was 36 years old," notes the ex-security official.

Could such a unit, since it was staffed with natives of Belarus, also deal with political opponents of the Belarusian dictatorship?

"Possibly," believes Stanislau Lupanosa. "Because information exchange has always existed and never stopped. The most striking example is the arrest of Fiaduta and Ziankovich in Moscow."

"Employees of our KGB special units studied at the FSB Academy," Stanislau Lupanosa reminds us.

"The publication of information about 'Center 795' will lead to the curtailment of its activities," Stanislau Lupanosa is confident. "If it was burned in the media, with names and positions, it's a failure.

This is similar to how in 2022 'Bypol' declassified the 9th department of the GRU. After that, that structure was disbanded."

Павялічыць

Siarhei Radkevich, photo from Belarusian passport database

Павялічыць

Dzmitry Drazdou, photo from Belarusian passport database

As we can see from the examples of Dzmitry Drazdou and Siarhei Radkevich, some Belarusian security officials are willing to hire themselves out to the dirtiest Russian structures – just to receive Russian salaries.

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