Official statements or press releases from the US government

GRU Allegedly Paid Taliban $200,000 Per Soldier to Target US Forces in Afghanistan from 2016-2019

Jan 8, 2025, 07:23 PM

An investigation by The Insider, in collaboration with Der Spiegel, has revealed that Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, allegedly paid the Taliban and other militant groups in Afghanistan to target American, coalition, and Afghan military forces. The operation, which reportedly ran from 2016 to 2019, involved payments of up to $200,000 per killed soldier, with an estimated total cost to Russia of $30 million. The GRU used a network of Afghan couriers, disguised as a gemstone trading company, to transfer funds to the militants. After completing their missions, these couriers were granted Russian documents and refuge in Russia. The investigation identified specific GRU officers involved, including Lt. Gen. Ivan Kasianenko and Col. Alexey Arkhipov, and named Rahmatullah Azizi as a key Afghan operative in the scheme.