General James Clapper: Russia uses techniques tested in Ukraine to meddle in US elections

General James Clapper, the 4th United States Director of National Intelligence (2010-2017), make a corresponding statement at the Columbia University in New York while answering a question of an Ukrinform correspondent.

"Ukraine was, so to speak, a laboratory. Putin used Ukraine, among other things, in order to test the effectiveness of various types of his weapons in this war. I mean the attacks on the power grid, "little green men" [masked soldiers in unmarked green army uniforms and carrying modern Russian military weapons and equipment that appeared in Crimea in 2014], propaganda. These are examples of military tactics. Russia used this experience for [meddling in] the US elections," General Clapper said.

He added that the Kremlin had a long history of interfering in elections and in one way or another had tried to meddle in the electoral process in a number of countries at least since the 1960s.

"However, their interference in the 2016 US presidential election was the most aggressive, large-scale, and multidimensional. And they gained those skills precisely because of interference in other countries, especially in Europe, Ukraine," Clapper noted.

The director of the National Intelligence under the presidency of Barack Obama explained that the use of social networks by Russians was particularly indicative. In his opinion, it is very important to understand cyber warfare techniques as now it is difficult to oppose them. Finally, he shared his impressions of Ukraine.

"I have been to your country several times. I admire Ukraine and Ukrainian people, your aspirations," the General said.

On Thursday, February 21, the Columbia University in New York, USA, hosted the presentation of the autobiographical book by General James Clapper entitled Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence.

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