Kate Leinbaugh

Maria would go to a forest in the south of Slovenia. There, she would slip messages for her handlers under a designated rock.

Maria would go to a forest in the south of Slovenia. There, she would slip messages for her handlers under a designated rock.

Maria would go to a forest in the south of Slovenia. There, she would slip messages for her handlers under a designated rock.

Maria's online gallery claimed to work with 90 artists around the world. The gallery's social media posted pictures from exhibitions across Europe. Her face is never shown. She is in one picture, standing next to a stepladder and adjusting a painting on the wall. But it's her back to the camera. It turns out the true nature of her work was surveillance.

Maria's online gallery claimed to work with 90 artists around the world. The gallery's social media posted pictures from exhibitions across Europe. Her face is never shown. She is in one picture, standing next to a stepladder and adjusting a painting on the wall. But it's her back to the camera. It turns out the true nature of her work was surveillance.

Maria's online gallery claimed to work with 90 artists around the world. The gallery's social media posted pictures from exhibitions across Europe. Her face is never shown. She is in one picture, standing next to a stepladder and adjusting a painting on the wall. But it's her back to the camera. It turns out the true nature of her work was surveillance.

Maria set up her small office just steps away from one of her marks, the director of a European Union energy regulatory agency. Russia wanted to know more about what the regulator was up to, so Maria started watching the director closely. Meanwhile, Ludwig had a startup registered in a nondescript building downtown. On his computer, there was hardware to communicate securely with Moscow.

Maria set up her small office just steps away from one of her marks, the director of a European Union energy regulatory agency. Russia wanted to know more about what the regulator was up to, so Maria started watching the director closely. Meanwhile, Ludwig had a startup registered in a nondescript building downtown. On his computer, there was hardware to communicate securely with Moscow.

Maria set up her small office just steps away from one of her marks, the director of a European Union energy regulatory agency. Russia wanted to know more about what the regulator was up to, so Maria started watching the director closely. Meanwhile, Ludwig had a startup registered in a nondescript building downtown. On his computer, there was hardware to communicate securely with Moscow.

The family was private. They marked birthdays without inviting other children. They drove a simple Kia sedan. And they tried to blend in.

The family was private. They marked birthdays without inviting other children. They drove a simple Kia sedan. And they tried to blend in.

The family was private. They marked birthdays without inviting other children. They drove a simple Kia sedan. And they tried to blend in.

The couple were model citizens, law-abiding, quiet, and careful. Until they weren't. Because over the years, Maria and Ludwig were starting to get bolder. They were starting to take some risks, including a family vacation.

The couple were model citizens, law-abiding, quiet, and careful. Until they weren't. Because over the years, Maria and Ludwig were starting to get bolder. They were starting to take some risks, including a family vacation.

The couple were model citizens, law-abiding, quiet, and careful. Until they weren't. Because over the years, Maria and Ludwig were starting to get bolder. They were starting to take some risks, including a family vacation.

That's after the break. The chief of Slovenia's spy agency sits in an office framed by a metallic owl, the emblem for the country's intelligence agency, SOVA. SOVA means owl. The Slovenian director, Josko Kadivnik, cuts a commanding figure.

That's after the break. The chief of Slovenia's spy agency sits in an office framed by a metallic owl, the emblem for the country's intelligence agency, SOVA. SOVA means owl. The Slovenian director, Josko Kadivnik, cuts a commanding figure.

That's after the break. The chief of Slovenia's spy agency sits in an office framed by a metallic owl, the emblem for the country's intelligence agency, SOVA. SOVA means owl. The Slovenian director, Josko Kadivnik, cuts a commanding figure.

The high-stakes assignment came suddenly in early spring 2022. Weeks earlier, Russia launched its ground invasion of Ukraine.

The high-stakes assignment came suddenly in early spring 2022. Weeks earlier, Russia launched its ground invasion of Ukraine.