Exclusive: The Russian Neo-Nazi Behind A Shadowy GRU Recruitment Campaign

The video began circulating in early August, mainly on Telegram channels known for Russian nationalist and pro-war sentiments. An echoing woman's voice narrates as pixelated, sepia-toned images of Russia's 1990s economic chaos morph into imperial and church symbols, and St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square.

"Dear compatriots living outside Russia, we are reaching out to you," the narrator intones. "Your time has come to become a hero and enter history! Write to us and we will help you defend your right to life, freedom, and the future. We will help you defend the Motherland!"

"Respectfully, the Military Intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," the video concludes, directing views to a recruitment bot -- an automated program within Telegram.

For months, Western intelligence and law enforcement officials have warned of an alarming trend: random people -- "freelancers," "proxies," "disposable agents" -- recruited, usually via Telegram, usually unwittingly, to perform various surreptitious, sometimes destructive tasks like surveillance, arson, sabotage, and spreading disinformation.

The agencies doing the recruiting and hiring, authorities say, are often directly or indirectly linked to Russia. That includes "The Military Intelligence of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," known widely as GRU.