Can you solve it? Secrets of Russian intelligence

Three puzzles that came in from the cold

UPDATE: The solutions to the puzzles can now be found here.

Hi guzzlers,

Every day we read stories concerning the prowess of Russian hackers. But why are they so good? A clue may lie in the fact that Russia has long excelled in maths outreach, which has been instrumental in creating a supply of people with the right skills. More of this later. Meanwhile, here are three puzzles with Russian origins.