{"id":111096,"date":"2026-05-08T03:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T00:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disinfo.md\/the-nest-of-spies-in-the-heart-of-moscow-what-is-department-4-putins-hacker-factory\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T11:28:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T08:28:45","slug":"the-nest-of-spies-in-the-heart-of-moscow-what-is-department-4-putins-hacker-factory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disinfo.md\/en\/the-nest-of-spies-in-the-heart-of-moscow-what-is-department-4-putins-hacker-factory\/","title":{"rendered":"The nest of spies in the heart of Moscow: what is Department 4, Putin’s “hacker factory”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An international investigation reveals the existence of a secret cyber training program in the heart of Moscow, where elite university students are prepared for cyber warfare and digital espionage operations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

According to documents obtained by an international consortium of journalists, the institution is said to host a special structure involved in training agents for the Russian military intelligence service<\/a> GRU.<\/p>\n\n

According to the investigation by The Guardian,<\/a> within the university, the “Department 4”<\/em>, also known as “Special Training”<\/em>, would operate, selecting a limited number of students for a career in military intelligence structures. They would be trained in areas such as cybersecurity, electronic interceptions, and surveillance operations.<\/p>\n\n

The cited documents indicate that the recruitment and evaluation process would be directly coordinated by the GRU, with service officers participating in exams, candidate selection, and training monitoring.<\/p>\n\n

What is Department 4<\/h2>\n\n

Department 4 would be located within the university center for military training<\/a>, which is divided into three specialized departments, among which the “special reconnaissance service” stands out.<\/p>\n\n

According to the documents cited by The Guardian, GRU controls the recruitment and evaluation process, sends officers to conduct exams, approves candidates, and oversees operations.<\/p>\n\n

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Revealed: Russia\u2019s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling | Pjotr Sauer & Shaun Walker, The Guardian

Last April, Vladimir Putin visited the campus of Bauman Moscow state technical university, set on the banks of the Yauza River in the east of the city and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/VMfttM8mFd<\/a><\/p>— Owen Gregorian (@OwenGregorian) May 7, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>