He has been replaced by Alexei Komkov, the former deputy head of counterintelligence.
The Fifth Service, under Beseda's leadership, played a significant role in the intelligence assessments that led Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These assessments, however, proved to be flawed, particularly the expectation that the Russian military would encounter minimal resistance from Ukraine.
Read also: Shoigu out as Russian Defense Minister after 11+ years, his appointment has no military experience
While there were earlier media claims that Beseda and his team were arrested for their faulty intelligence early in the conflict, these reports remain unverified by Vazhnye Istorii.
Beseda will now serve as an advisor to FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov. His resignation was officially attributed to reaching the service age limit of 70.
The shake-up follows comments from Ukraine's intelligence chief, Kyrilo Budanov, in May 2022, revealing arrests and changes within Russian security services, including actions against Beseda, who he described as "a very problematic person" for Ukraine due to his role in directing FSB operations there.
The Fifth Service has been implicated in subversive activities within Ukraine over the years, significantly shaping the strategies behind Russia’s military actions.
Read also: Russian GRU ready to appoint new Putin if needed — Mariupol defender
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Nation
Author: Андрій Журба
