June 9, 2018

“Our Intelligence Should Be Among the Best Ones”

There is no more romanticism in the work of an intelligence officer than in that of representatives of other professions, but the responsibility is another story. This was discussed in the walls of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the meeting of the students with President of the Independent Analytical Center for Geopolitical Studies “Borysfen Intel” Victor Hvozd. The event was organized by the Centre for International Studies of the Academy, which performs educational and scientific tasks. To future diplomats the guest was introduced by the head of this venerable educational institution Sergiy Korsunsky — a scientist in the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine.

Clearly, Victor Ivanovych had something to share with the audience, especially since his experience of such communication is great: for two years in a row, he has been lecturing at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, conducting seminars, and last year he even prepared for publication his book “Ukraine's Military Intelligence at the Turn of the Third Millennium”, which has already been discussed both during its presentation, and during similar events, including at higher educational institutions.

As the only Ukrainian intelligence specialist so far who managed to head two Ukrainian intelligence agencies (the military intelligence and the foreign intelligence service of Ukraine) within a short period of time — Victor Hvozd very well knows all their peculiarities, the amount of effort that the Ukrainian society needs to make to improve their effectiveness, the expenditures, without which today, no intelligence in the world is capable of performing its tasks. To prevent the students' doubting such statements, V. Hvozd briefly described his work, including in various positions in intelligence agencies, told about his colleagues and their attempts to revive Ukrainian intelligence (for it was he who recently told the media about the circumstances in which, exactly one hundred years ago, in 1918, at the time of the UPR, Ukrainian intelligence agencies were created), about nowadays' countering the enemies of the young Ukrainian state.

At the request of the audience, he even told about some successful operations that have already become a vivid example of the capabilities of our intelligence officers.

— Diplomats and intelligence officers actually fulfill the same tasks, — said V. Hvozd, — and their reports complement each other, which works for the good of the state. But in order to make their work effective, we must persistently improve our legislation, educate true professionals, and develop an educational and technical base for this.

Incidentally, the young presentees were actively asking about the current legislation, directions for its renewal or, as they say, “modernization”. V. Hvozd answered openly and at times even sadly over this important topic for Ukraine, while explaining what exactly he meant. And to confirm his words, he turned to the experience of the world known intelligence authorities, who managed to create and develop such a complicated and important type of activity in rather difficult circumstances.

— I was officially in contact with many foreign colleagues, and none of them doubted the modern principles of their subordinates' work or the correctness of their choice of ways to achieve their goal, said V. Hvozd. — Our intelligence should also be among the best, and this the state's task.

By the way, at this meeting they discussed the Russian intelligence too, without which military actions in the East of Ukraine can't do. After all, the Russian GRU and FSB have directly to do with the military formations that, under the guise of the militia, are firing Ukrainian villages and cities, attacking the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, destroying Ukrainian enterprises, capturing Ukrainian citizens. Were also mentioned the events of a few years ago, when the Russians, trying to justify the failure of their illegal agents in the territories of Western countries, tried to turn them into heroes in the eyes of the Russian society.

The present also asked about the methods of obtaining information, analysis of its content, as well as its consumer. And the fact that they were satisfied with the current topic of the event and the content of answers was confirmed by their desire to get V. Hvozd's book “Ukraine's Military Intelligence on the Turn of the Third Millennium” with the signature of its author.

In the photos: future diplomats' meeting in the walls of the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Oleh Makhno

The photo-report by Volodymyr Rayevskyi

Relevant materials:

Victor Hvozd's book “Ukraine's Military Intelligence at the Turn of the Third Millennium” — about the book

The presentation of the book “Ukraine's Military Intelligence at the Turn of the Third Millennium”

President of “Borysfen Intel” Victor Hvozd on the “Radio Liberty”

The presentation of the book at the National Academy of Public Administration

“Ukraine's Military Intelligence at the Turn of the Third Millennium” at the Publishers Forum in Lviv

Victor Hvozd's book “Ukraine's Military Intelligence at the Turn of the Third Millennium” — how to buy the book