UK moves to expel undeclared Russian spy in response to growing threat

The properties involved include Seacox Heath – a Russia-owned property in Sussex – and the Trade and Defence Section in Highgate, both of which are believed to have been used for intelligence purposes.

Further, the Government is moving to impose new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas, including capping the length of time Russian diplomats can spend here in the UK.

In addition, the UK has summoned the Russian Ambassador to replay these measures and reiterated that Russia’s actions will not be tolerated.

The latest in a string of robust measures taken against Russia to protect the UK, these actions follow a pattern of malign activity carried out both here and abroad in the past year, which is believed to be linked to Russia.

Five Bulgarian nationals were charged with conspiring to commit espionage activities in the UK on behalf of Russia. A sixth individual was later charged. Legal proceedings for all are ongoing.

Last month, a further five individuals were the first to be charged in connection with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed at the time it related to alleged ‘hostile activity in the UK in order to benefit a foreign state – namely Russia’.

Malign cyber activity

In recent years, the UK and its allies have also attributed a number of malign cyber activity incidents in the UK to the Russian Federal Security Service, such as targeting UK parliamentarians through spear-phishing campaigns, hacking and leaking UK-US trade documents and interference against a UK Think Tank working on defending democracy against disinformation.

In Europe, the Russian Government has allegedly planned sabotage activities against military aid for Ukraine in Germany and Poland and carried out alleged espionage activity in Bulgaria and Italy, cyber and disinformation activities, air space violations and GPS jamming with an impact on civil aviation.

Home Secretary James Cleverly explained: “These activities bear all the hallmarks of a deliberate campaign by Russia. We are taking action to send a strong deterrence message to Russia and to further reduce the ability of the Russian Intelligence Services to threaten the UK. We will stand firm in the face of the Russian threat to the UK and our way of life.”

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron commented: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to undermine UK and European security have become increasingly brazen. These measures are an unequivocal message to the Russian state. Its actions will not go unanswered. Alongside our friends and partners, we will continue to stand with Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its malign activity.”

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps affirmed: “In addition to the major uplift in our support for Ukraine to £3 billion this year, we are taking robust action to prevent Russia’s malign activity from threatening the UK. Together with our allies, we continue to send a powerful message to Putin that we will not tolerate his disruptive efforts. Further, we are not cowed by his threats. We will continue to stand up for freedom and democracy for as long as it takes.”

Top priority

Following Russia’s state-backed attack in Salisbury in 2018, the UK and its allies enacted unprecedented measures to make Europe a harder operating environment for the Russian Intelligence Services. These measures included expelling 23 undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK.  

Security is a top priority for the Government. The National Security Act 2023 has delivered a range of measures designed to strengthen the UK’s efforts to detect, deter and disrupt state threats, including by enhancing police powers to investigate state threats.