The article describes Russian agents far away from where they are based, wandering in the middle of nowhere... coincidentally, where fiber-optic cables are laid.
What exactly could they be doing?
Why do they have to be "on site?"
They're surely not mapping the fiber-optic network? They seem to know where to go. And given Russia's expertise in hacking, surely they could get electronic files that thoroughly map the network.
And if they're planning to physically sabotage these networks... I still don't fully see what purpose driving around in the middle of Kansas would serve. Recon?
But again... everyone needs to read this article.
Russian agents are free to do this stuff... travel freely across the country, far from where they are based. There is NOW, I guess, a rule that they are supposed to notify the State Dept. if they intend to travel more than 50 miles from where they are based. But they don't follow the rules.... and do we think the Trump administration is going to enforce that rule? Apparently, the Obama administration was reluctant to agree to this rule & fought against it. Meanwhile, American agents in Russia are tailed the moment they leave the compound & the FSB beat the crap out of one American agent who lost his tail.
And we are giving them back the compounds we took away.