Centre 795, a secret Russian intelligence unit, has come under scrutiny after a senior operative was arrested following an apparent operational error. Denis Alimov, identified as a veteran of Russia’s elite Alfa special forces unit within the FSB, was detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation upon arriving at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia. Authorities believe Alimov was linked to Centre 795, a covert structure reportedly formed in the early months of the war in Ukraine to carry out sensitive operations abroad.
The unit is understood to combine operatives from Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, and the Federal Security Service. It is said to have been created after the exposure of GRU Unit 29155, whose international operations, including the Salisbury poisoning attack, drew global attention. Centre 795 is reported to answer directly to Valery Gerasimov, a senior military official under President Vladimir Putin. Its activities reportedly range from battlefield coordination in Ukraine to clandestine operations abroad, including sabotage, abductions, and targeted killings.
Investigators say the case unraveled after a technical mistake. One operative reportedly used Google Translate to communicate with a suspected contract killer. The translation requests passed through servers in the United States, giving authorities legal access to the messages. In one intercepted exchange, the suspected assassin wrote, “I believe we will find him soon, he can’t be moving around all the time. He’ll relax and fall into the trap at some point.” Another message referenced Alimov directly, stating, “He’s very well connected… one of the closest men to an important government official.”
Prosecutors claim Alimov’s operation targeted two Chechen dissidents living in Europe. He allegedly offered over £1 million per target if they could be delivered to Russia alive or dead. Authorities have suggested that Alimov had been under investigation for more than a year before his arrest. He remains in custody in Colombia while discussions over possible extradition to the United States continue.
Experts believe this case could reveal critical information about Centre 795, including its internal structure, operational procedures, and network of backers. A unit intended to operate in total secrecy may now face serious compromise following Alimov’s detention. The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of modern intelligence operations when minor mistakes intersect with digital oversight.
