Russia quietly turned Brazil into a staging ground for deep-cover operatives, according to a New York Times investigation. Over the past decade, Russian agents posing as Brazilian citizens used real birth certificates to build false identities, start businesses and blend into society, preparing for missions abroad.
Known as “illegals,” the agents lived undercover in Brazil for years before moving to Europe, the U.S. or the Middle East. Brazil’s Federal Police uncovered the network through a multiyear counterintelligence operation called Operation East, with support from Western security services. Investigators ultimately identified at least nine Russian officers using fabricated Brazilian identities.
How did Brazil uncover the spy network?
The investigation began in early 2022, when the CIA tipped off Brazilian authorities about a man traveling under a Brazilian passport who had been denied entry to the Netherlands. The man, Sergey Cherkasov, had secured an internship at the International Criminal Court just as it began probing Russian war crimes in Ukraine. When he returned to São Paulo, Brazilian police arrested him for document fraud.
Though his paperwork appeared legitimate, investigators discovered that the life it described didn’t exist. This launched a broader effort to identify other “ghosts” — individuals with valid documents but no real history in Brazil.
How did spies exploit Brazil’s ID system?
Brazil’s decentralized civil registry allowed operatives to acquire real birth certificates under fake names. Some birth certificates date back decades. Authorities now suspect Soviet operatives may have planted records in the 1980s or ’90s for future use.
With authentic documents, the spies obtained voter IDs, military papers and Brazilian passports — valuable for their visa-free access to much of the world.
What happened to the operatives?
Only Cherkasov remains in custody. Authorities believe the others fled, some returning to Russia, while others may be in Portugal, Uruguay or the Middle East. Their covers now exposed, intelligence officials say they’re unlikely to operate abroad again.
How did Brazil respond internationally?
To expose the network, Brazil issued Interpol Blue Notices, citing document fraud. The notices shared names, photos and fingerprints with law enforcement worldwide. Western intelligence agencies verified several identities.
The move marked a shift from Brazil’s historically neutral stance. Brazilian officials called the operation a betrayal and said the exposure sends a clear message: Brazil won’t tolerate foreign espionage within its borders.
contributed to this report.
