Financial espionage specialist Pavel Ivanov appointed head of Russia's most secret foreign intelligence service department
On February 1, 2024, Pavel Ivanov, former head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Economic Intelligence Directorate (also known as Directorate “E”), was appointed commander of Military Unit 39949. Unit 39949 is the SVR’s most secret unit. Its structure includes the Directorate of Political Intelligence (“P”), Directorate of Legal Intelligence (“L”), Directorate of Scientific and Technical Intelligence (“N”) and Directorate of Illegal Intelligence («S»).