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Signal
Submitted
Feb 1, 2026, 00:14 UTC
Six Bulgarians convicted for spying and conducting kidnapping plots for Russia across Europe including UK, Germany, and other states, targeting journalists, politicians, and military installations.
A Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions,' involving six Bulgarian individuals, conducted extensive espionage and kidnapping plots across Europe, primarily in the UK. Convicted members include Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, with ringleader Orlin Roussev and two others having pleaded guilty. Their operations spanned from December 2020 through early 2023 and included surveillance of Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev who exposed Russian activities related to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning. They also plotted to kidnap Russian investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov in the UK and considered smuggling him out by boat. Another target was former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev residing in London under asylum, as well as a Russian whistleblower Kirill Kachur in Montenegro with drone surveillance and kidnapping intent. The ring also attempted to fake opposition demonstrations against the Kazakhstan embassy in London to influence Kazakh intelligence. Surveillance of a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, where Ukrainian forces were believed to train, involved the use of technical surveillance equipment and adapted vehicles. The spy network directly liaised with Russian intelligence officers and operated from a base in a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Sentencing is due in May with convictions carrying up to 14 years imprisonment. The operation was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, wanted by Interpol.
Confidence: High
This event describes clear hostile actions by a Russian-orchestrated spy ring conducting espionage, surveillance, infiltration, and kidnapping plots targeting European and US-aligned individuals and military assets, confirmed by court convictions and intelligence investigations.
Source URL
https://news.sky.com/story/the-operations-carried-out-by-russian-spy-ring-dubbed-the-minions-13323509
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "2777ff13-dac5-4f5e-9e77-07476ab3a8cb",
"url": "https://news.sky.com/story/the-operations-carried-out-by-russian-spy-ring-dubbed-the-minions-13323509",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Intelligence & Espionage",
"subcategory": "Human Intelligence (HUMINT)",
"incident_type": "Recruitment of locals",
"country": "United Kingdom",
"source_reliability": "C",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"russian intelligence operations",
"UK spy ring",
"Bulgaria",
"Kidnapping plot",
"Christo Grozev",
"Roman Dobrokhotov",
"Kazakh politician surveillance",
"us military bases",
"Ukraine",
"Jan Marsalek"
],
"nodes": [],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Land",
"headline": null,
"description": "Six Bulgarians involved in the Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions' were convicted after being found guilty of espionage and plots to kidnap journalists and political opponents across Europe. The individuals operated mainly from Norfolk, UK, conducting surveillance on investigative journalists like Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, monitoring former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev in London, and spying on a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, to gather intelligence on Ukrainian forces. The group planned kidnappings, covert operations such as smuggling detainees by boat, and staged acts intended to mislead Kazakh intelligence. The ringleader was linked to Jan Marsalek, a wanted figure associated with Russian intelligence. The operations spanned multiple countries including Austria, Spain, Montenegro, Germany, and UK, revealing a sophisticated network directly collaborating with Russian intelligence entities. The convicted face prison terms up to 14 years.",
"summary_short": "Six Bulgarians convicted for spying and conducting kidnapping plots for Russia across Europe including UK, Germany, and other states, targeting journalists, politicians, and military installations.",
"summary_extended": "A Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions,' involving six Bulgarian individuals, conducted extensive espionage and kidnapping plots across Europe, primarily in the UK. Convicted members include Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, with ringleader Orlin Roussev and two others having pleaded guilty. Their operations spanned from December 2020 through early 2023 and included surveillance of Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev who exposed Russian activities related to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning. They also plotted to kidnap Russian investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov in the UK and considered smuggling him out by boat. Another target was former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev residing in London under asylum, as well as a Russian whistleblower Kirill Kachur in Montenegro with drone surveillance and kidnapping intent. The ring also attempted to fake opposition demonstrations against the Kazakhstan embassy in London to influence Kazakh intelligence. Surveillance of a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, where Ukrainian forces were believed to train, involved the use of technical surveillance equipment and adapted vehicles. The spy network directly liaised with Russian intelligence officers and operated from a base in a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Sentencing is due in May with convictions carrying up to 14 years imprisonment. The operation was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, wanted by Interpol.",
"actor_primary": "Orlin Roussev",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK; London, UK; Austria; Montenegro; Spain; Stuttgart, Germany; Budapest; Berlin",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": 55.378051,
"location_coordinates_lon": -3.435973,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "This event describes clear hostile actions by a Russian-orchestrated spy ring conducting espionage, surveillance, infiltration, and kidnapping plots targeting European and US-aligned individuals and military assets, confirmed by court convictions and intelligence investigations.",
"event_time_utc": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:27.325Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-09T00:47:45.833Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "significant",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "independent_sources"
}Source reliability
C
Info credibility
3
Event time
Mar 7, 2025, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK; London, UK; Austria; Montenegro; Spain; Stuttgart, Germany; Budapest; Berlin
Primary actor
Orlin Roussev
Country
United Kingdom
Tags
russian intelligence operations, UK spy ring, Bulgaria, Kidnapping plot, Christo Grozev, Roman Dobrokhotov, Kazakh politician surveillance, us military bases, Ukraine, Jan Marsalek
Signal
Submitted
Feb 1, 2026, 00:14 UTC
Six Bulgarians convicted for spying and conducting kidnapping plots for Russia across Europe including UK, Germany, and other states, targeting journalists, politicians, and military installations.
A Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions,' involving six Bulgarian individuals, conducted extensive espionage and kidnapping plots across Europe, primarily in the UK. Convicted members include Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, with ringleader Orlin Roussev and two others having pleaded guilty. Their operations spanned from December 2020 through early 2023 and included surveillance of Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev who exposed Russian activities related to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning. They also plotted to kidnap Russian investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov in the UK and considered smuggling him out by boat. Another target was former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev residing in London under asylum, as well as a Russian whistleblower Kirill Kachur in Montenegro with drone surveillance and kidnapping intent. The ring also attempted to fake opposition demonstrations against the Kazakhstan embassy in London to influence Kazakh intelligence. Surveillance of a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, where Ukrainian forces were believed to train, involved the use of technical surveillance equipment and adapted vehicles. The spy network directly liaised with Russian intelligence officers and operated from a base in a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Sentencing is due in May with convictions carrying up to 14 years imprisonment. The operation was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, wanted by Interpol.
Confidence: High
This event describes clear hostile actions by a Russian-orchestrated spy ring conducting espionage, surveillance, infiltration, and kidnapping plots targeting European and US-aligned individuals and military assets, confirmed by court convictions and intelligence investigations.
Source URL
https://news.sky.com/story/the-operations-carried-out-by-russian-spy-ring-dubbed-the-minions-13323509
Published as a hybrid-warfare signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.
{
"id": "2777ff13-dac5-4f5e-9e77-07476ab3a8cb",
"url": "https://news.sky.com/story/the-operations-carried-out-by-russian-spy-ring-dubbed-the-minions-13323509",
"source": "extension",
"status": "approved",
"category": "Intelligence & Espionage",
"subcategory": "Human Intelligence (HUMINT)",
"incident_type": "Recruitment of locals",
"country": "United Kingdom",
"source_reliability": "C",
"info_credibility": "3",
"tags": [
"russian intelligence operations",
"UK spy ring",
"Bulgaria",
"Kidnapping plot",
"Christo Grozev",
"Roman Dobrokhotov",
"Kazakh politician surveillance",
"us military bases",
"Ukraine",
"Jan Marsalek"
],
"nodes": [],
"countries": [],
"where_text": "Land",
"headline": null,
"description": "Six Bulgarians involved in the Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions' were convicted after being found guilty of espionage and plots to kidnap journalists and political opponents across Europe. The individuals operated mainly from Norfolk, UK, conducting surveillance on investigative journalists like Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, monitoring former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev in London, and spying on a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, to gather intelligence on Ukrainian forces. The group planned kidnappings, covert operations such as smuggling detainees by boat, and staged acts intended to mislead Kazakh intelligence. The ringleader was linked to Jan Marsalek, a wanted figure associated with Russian intelligence. The operations spanned multiple countries including Austria, Spain, Montenegro, Germany, and UK, revealing a sophisticated network directly collaborating with Russian intelligence entities. The convicted face prison terms up to 14 years.",
"summary_short": "Six Bulgarians convicted for spying and conducting kidnapping plots for Russia across Europe including UK, Germany, and other states, targeting journalists, politicians, and military installations.",
"summary_extended": "A Russian spy ring known as 'the Minions,' involving six Bulgarian individuals, conducted extensive espionage and kidnapping plots across Europe, primarily in the UK. Convicted members include Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, with ringleader Orlin Roussev and two others having pleaded guilty. Their operations spanned from December 2020 through early 2023 and included surveillance of Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev who exposed Russian activities related to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning. They also plotted to kidnap Russian investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov in the UK and considered smuggling him out by boat. Another target was former Kazakh politician Bergey Ryskaliyev residing in London under asylum, as well as a Russian whistleblower Kirill Kachur in Montenegro with drone surveillance and kidnapping intent. The ring also attempted to fake opposition demonstrations against the Kazakhstan embassy in London to influence Kazakh intelligence. Surveillance of a US military base in Stuttgart, Germany, where Ukrainian forces were believed to train, involved the use of technical surveillance equipment and adapted vehicles. The spy network directly liaised with Russian intelligence officers and operated from a base in a former guesthouse in Great Yarmouth. Sentencing is due in May with convictions carrying up to 14 years imprisonment. The operation was directed by alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek, wanted by Interpol.",
"actor_primary": "Orlin Roussev",
"target_primary": null,
"location_text": "Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK; London, UK; Austria; Montenegro; Spain; Stuttgart, Germany; Budapest; Berlin",
"location_region": null,
"location_coordinates_lat": 55.378051,
"location_coordinates_lon": -3.435973,
"location_precision": "Regional",
"is_aggressor_signal": true,
"signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
"is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
"classification_complete": true,
"hybrid_signal_complete": true,
"classification_confidence": "High",
"classification_rationale": "This event describes clear hostile actions by a Russian-orchestrated spy ring conducting espionage, surveillance, infiltration, and kidnapping plots targeting European and US-aligned individuals and military assets, confirmed by court convictions and intelligence investigations.",
"event_time_utc": "2025-03-07T00:00:00.000Z",
"end_time_utc": null,
"event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
"created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:27.325Z",
"updated_at": "2026-11-09T00:47:45.833Z",
"reliability_band": "strong",
"location_precision_band": "regional",
"time_precision_band": "within_24h",
"severity_band": "significant",
"attribution_confidence_band": "high",
"attribution_basis": "independent_sources"
}Source reliability
C
Info credibility
3
Event time
Mar 7, 2025, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
pm24h
Location
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK; London, UK; Austria; Montenegro; Spain; Stuttgart, Germany; Budapest; Berlin
Primary actor
Orlin Roussev
Country
United Kingdom
Tags
russian intelligence operations, UK spy ring, Bulgaria, Kidnapping plot, Christo Grozev, Roman Dobrokhotov, Kazakh politician surveillance, us military bases, Ukraine, Jan Marsalek