Fishy Spies?

The FBI claims it just caught 10 Russian agents embedded as spies on the east coast. One of the instructions purportedly send to them read as follows:

"You were sent to USA for long-term service trip. Your education, your bank accounts, car, house, etc – all these serve one goal: fulfil your main mission, ie, to search and develop ties in policymaking circles in US and send intels (intelligence reports) to C (Centre)."

I must say this does not have the ring of truth at all. If they were recruited and trained in Russia they would have been told this many times. No one would have to send them a message reminding them why they were sent to the US in the first place. I can't imagine how the FBI could be scammed on this. But something is fishy.