Former British intelligence officials said Britain was now a “prime” target and Russia would do everything possible to “get access to people and use agents in the right places”.
Boris Karpichkov, a former Russian spy, previously claimed that at least four Russian agents were currently working in Westminster.
MPs and their staff have been urged to remain vigilant as tensions with Moscow over the Ukraine conflict escalate.
In newly released emails, a Russian intelligence source close to the Kremlin suggested that Moscow was “stepping up undercover work with secret informants” throughout the United Kingdom.
“Another direction – to intensify undercover work with secret informants in all spheres of society in Britain, mainly among civil servants and politicians of all ranks – including those who sit in Parliament and members of the Lords”
“The emphasis is on finding scumbags ready to commit self-sacrifice under any pretext. We need ‘kamikaze-torpedoes’ who would agree to participate in sabotage”
“Particular attention must be paid to activists from international student youth movements, trade unions, and leaders of various religious communities.”
Former MI5 intelligence officer Annie Machon said she has “no doubts” the Russians will try to infiltrate Britain – and warned that there will be a “urgency” to do so in light of the Ukraine conflict.
Former MI5 intelligence officer Annie Machon
According to Annie, Russian intelligence services are likely to try to recruit agents through the use of money, ideology, compromise, and self-interest.
According to a former MI5 officer, they would look for people who were sympathetic to Russia’s cause and would usually offer large sums of money in exchange for an “exciting” life of espionage.
The former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, said that the spies could also target the topic of support for Ukraine.
“They will be very much focused on the UK… to get an idea of what is going on at the heart of the government, our attitude to the war in Ukraine, our relationship with the Ukrainians,” Sir Dearlove said.
