A web of Russian spy cells could be active in Britain, with operatives potentially working under Vladimir Putin’s command, according to a top security official.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism unit, has raised concerns about Russia employing criminal proxies to conduct espionage on British soil.
The warning follows the recent conviction of six Bulgarians found guilty of spying for the Kremlin. The group, known as ‘The Minions’, operated from Great Yarmouth and engaged in large-scale spying activities.
For three years, the spy ring orchestrated plots to kidnap and murder critics of Putin and conducted surveillance on a US airbase in Germany.
According to Commander Murphy, this group is not an isolated case. He warned that “this won’t be the only activity Russia is conducting here in the UK” and highlighted that recent investigations have uncovered further suspicious activities.
“As the UK becomes a more hostile environment due to our efforts, we anticipate that Russia will increasingly rely on proxies to carry out its objectives,” Murphy added.
He also revealed that over 20% of the Counter-Terrorism unit’s current operations are related to threats posed by foreign states, describing this as a growing challenge.
(Picture: PA)
Three members of the convicted spy ring, identified as Katrin Ivanova, 33, Vanya Gaberova, 30, and Tihomir Ivanov Ivanchev, 39, were found guilty at the Old Bailey. Authorities described their operation as one of the “largest and most complex” enemy spy networks uncovered in the UK.
The group’s activities, dating back to August 2020, included concealing listening devices inside ordinary objects like a rock, men’s ties, and a Coke bottle.
In 2021, the group attempted to discredit Christo Grozev, a Bellingcat investigative journalist, by deploying a ‘true sexy b**’ honeytrap** in a bid to ruin his reputation.
The operatives reportedly tracked Grozev across Vienna, Valencia, and Montenegro.
In November 2022, they targeted another journalist, Roman Dobrokhotov, founder of The Insider, who claimed the group’s orders came directly from Putin.
“I’m very lucky to be alive,” Dobrokhotov told the BBC, adding that assassination was likely one of the options considered by the spies.
“In this dictatorship, you would never take responsibility on your own to do such a political thing. You will always have a direct order from the president,” he stated.
The spy cell was eventually dismantled following police raids in London and at the Great Yarmouth home of alleged ringleader Orlin Roussev in February 2023.
Authorities uncovered a range of hi-tech spyware, including a £120,000 device capable of intercepting mobile phone data, 11 drones, and 75 fake passports.
The alleged director of the group is Jan Marsalek, a 44-year-old Austrian businessman who is currently on Interpol’s wanted list.
Incidents involving Kremlin spies creating chaos on British soil have occurred before, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by Russia’s covert operations.
