Mr. Debbins's mother was born in the former Soviet Union, partly prompting his interest in Russia, prosecutors said. He met his wife on one of his first trips there; her father was a Russian military officer. He told the Russian operatives he was a “son of Russia” and planned to join the United States military. During a tour in South Korea a year later, he returned to Russia and met with operatives from its military intelligence agency, known as the G.R.U. Mr. Debbins told his handlers about military activities and said he wanted to leave the Army, but they encouraged him to remain.

Source: New York Times August 21, 2020 23:23 UTC