American journalists from The Wall Street Journal have uncovered new information about the activities of a Russian spy who operated in several countries, including Poland. They report that Pavel Rubtsov, also known as Pablo Gonzalez, was likely recruited by Russian intelligence as early as 2010. The investigation also confirms several other previously speculated details about his covert career.
In a detailed report authored by Drew Hinshaw and Joe Parkinson, The Wall Street Journal reveals previously unknown aspects of Rubtsov’s activities. The journalists also shed light on the murky biography of the Russian spy, who had spent years mingling within Polish media circles while secretly working for Russian intelligence.
A Double Life
Rubtsov, who led a double life as Pablo Gonzalez, managed to maintain families in both Spain and Russia. He lived with his wife and children in Catalonia, Spain, while also fathering a child with his Russian partner. This complex personal life made him an ideal recruit for Russian intelligence services.
Spanish authorities suspect that Rubtsov was recruited by Russia’s GRU during a visit to his father and stepmother in Russia around 2010. Until now, it was believed that his espionage activities began in 2012.
Carelessness in Espionage
Despite producing detailed reports on meetings with Ukrainian parliamentarians and officials, Rubtsov’s handlers reportedly criticized his lack of caution. He allegedly retained evidence of illegally obtained documents on his devices for too long, compromising his operations. Some of these files were stored on cloud platforms, providing further proof of his espionage activities.
Rubtsov also managed to build rapport with officials from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, who invited him to official ceremonies. In 2016, he gained access to a military base near the Polish-Ukrainian border during military exercises, where he had close contact with instructors from the United States and Canada.
Under Surveillance
The report notes that Rubtsov had been on the radar of intelligence services since 2014, with Spain’s Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI) being the first to investigate him. By 2017, the CIA had also started monitoring his activities. Reports detailing Rubtsov’s double life eventually reached Langley, where analysts identified him as part of a Russian spy network.
British MI6 and Polish intelligence services later joined the investigation. According to The Wall Street Journal, Rubtsov was conducting interviews with members of a newly formed left-wing political party in Poland and had begun a relationship with an independent Polish journalist. His arrival in Poland in 2019 likely brought him to the attention of Polish counterintelligence.
A High-Value Asset
The American journalists corroborated numerous findings previously reported by Spanish media. However, they uncovered new details about Rubtsov’s testimony. According to their sources, Rubtsov told Polish investigators that he was a valuable asset to the Kremlin and could potentially be exchanged for high-profile figures, such as Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
This revelation highlights not only Rubtsov’s importance to Russian intelligence but also the significant threat posed by his infiltration of European political and defense circles.