Russian Spy Ring and Jan Marsalek

A Russian spy ring, led by a fugitive named Jan Marsalek, plotted to trade blood diamonds for weapons in Africa, supply drones to Russia’s military, and engage in espionage activities targeting journalists and diplomats in various countries. The spies were sentenced in a London court, with Marsalek still at large.

Russian-backed Espionage Ring in the UK

A group of amateur operatives, including a beautician and a painter-decorator, orchestrated espionage operations for the Kremlin in the UK, targeting high-profile dissidents and sensitive military sites. Their activities included honeytraps, kidnappings, and murder plots. The group was part of a larger Russian-backed spy ring operating from Great Yarmouth, with their handler known as 'Mad Max.' The group was involved in chaotic covert missions, including surveilling journalists critical of Russia and planning to influence foreign political climates. The group's activities were uncovered in one of the UK's largest espionage investigations, with over 200,000 messages and spy equipment seized. The defendants will be sentenced in May.