Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday that it arrested a former guard at the British Embassy in Moscow for allegedly gathering sensitive information on British diplomats on behalf of Ukraine.
The agency alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services planned to use the information to carry out a false-flag attack targeting British diplomatic personnel.
According to the FSB, Ukraine intended to frame Russia for the operation to “draw the United Kingdom into a direct military conflict with Russia” and secure increased military aid from London.
Russian authorities said the former guard, who has not been named, collected sensitive data, including diplomats’ personal details, photos, home addresses, vehicles used, itineraries, security systems and internal embassy schedules.
The FSB said the former guard was placed in pre-trial detention and faces treason charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison for men. The maximum sentence for women is 20 years in prison.
The Moscow Times contacted the British Embassy for comment.
Russia’s FSB has regularly announced the arrests of people accused of working on behalf of Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Individuals facing these accusations are often charged with treason.
