Six members of a Russian spy ring operating in the UK and Europe were sentenced to over 50 years in total for espionage activities on behalf of Russia. The Bulgarian nationals targeted prominent individuals and sensitive locations including journalists, asylum seekers, and military sites from August 2020 to February 2023 using sophisticated surveillance methods, fake identities, and covert technology. They followed targets across Europe, considered hostile acts such as kidnapping and honeytrap plots, and conducted surveillance on a US military base believed to be training Ukrainian forces. The ring was directed by Orlin Roussev, who received instructions from Jan Marsalek, an intermediary for Russian Intelligence Services. Extensive digital communications and technical evidence were used to convict the group at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey). The convictions demonstrate strong UK counterintelligence and counterterrorism collaboration.

Six members of a Russian spy ring operating in the UK and Europe were sentenced to over 50 years in total for espionage activities on behalf of Russia. The Bulgarian nationals targeted prominent individuals and sensitive locations including journalists, asylum seekers, and military sites from August 2020 to February 2023 using sophisticated surveillance methods, fake identities, and covert technology. They followed targets across Europe, considered hostile acts such as kidnapping and honeytrap plots, and conducted surveillance on a US military base believed to be training Ukrainian forces. The ring was directed by Orlin Roussev, who received instructions from Jan Marsalek, an intermediary for Russian Intelligence Services. Extensive digital communications and technical evidence were used to convict the group at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey). The convictions demonstrate strong UK counterintelligence and counterterrorism collaboration.