Russia

Consequences of Kiev's provocation against UK diplomats could have been grave — expert

TASS English · 2026-09-10

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Ukrainian special services allegedly planned a provocation against British diplomats in Moscow, involving the gathering of personal data through a security guard at the British embassy, which led to the detention of an SBU agent. • Why it matters: The expert Vladimir Nechayev warned that if the scheme had succeeded, it could have escalated into a military conflict between Russia and the UK, highlighting the potential severity of such provocations. • What to watch next: Monitor developments regarding the detained SBU agent and any official responses from the UK and Ukraine regarding the incident and its implications for diplomatic relations.

Consequences of Kiev's provocation against UK diplomats could have been grave — expert Nechayev explained that the essence of the Ukrainian special services' scheme involved gathering personal dataMOSCOW, September 10. /TASS/. The consequences of a potential provocation by Ukrainian special services against British diplomats in Moscow could have been severe, Vladimir Nechayev, a veteran of the Soviet Unions’ KGB counterintelligence service has said. "Ukrainian special services are overdoing it; in this instance, they aimed the spearhead of the entire operation at the British diplomatic mission. Had it succeeded, it could have led to very serious consequences, potentially even escalating to a military conflict between Russia and the UK," he said in a video released by the FSB. Nechayev explained that the essence of the Ukrainian special services' scheme involved gathering personal data - ranging from the British ambassador in Moscow down to every other staff member of the country's diplomatic mission in Russia - via a security guard at the British embassy. "The transfer of such highly detailed information could have resulted in dire consequences, including terrorist attacks and physical or psychological harm to these individuals. Naturally, following a well-worn script, Ukraine planned to subsequently target accusations against the Russian side. It was yet another crude provocation - and a clumsily fabricated one," Nechayev noted. Earlier, the FSB announced the detention of a former security guard at the British embassy in Moscow who turned out to be an SBU agent; he had been gathering information on British diplomats on the instructions of Ukrainian blogger Dmitry Karpenko (using the alias Apostol Dmitry). Ukrainian special services planned to use this information to prepare terrorist attacks against the ambassador and other British diplomats, intending to subsequently blame Moscow and draw Britain into a direct armed conflict with Russia. TagsUkraineAbout nine million foreign nationals arrive in Russia annually — ministerAt the moment, the number of foreigners in Russia stands at 6-6.5 million, Andrey Kikot said Read morePutin calls joint laboratory opened in Vietnam example of successful partnershipThe Russian leader considered it highly symbolic that this important event coincides with the state visit of the President of VietnamRead moreIraqi tankers transit Strait of Hormuz with identification systems off — expertNabil al-Marsoumi says oil is transported with the involvement of ADNOC and passes through the strait via the ‘Omani route’Read moreHanoi, Moscow to boost ties in defense, security, digital transformation — To LamThe Vietnamese president says Hanoi and Moscow are set to "transform science and technology, innovations and digital transformation into a real pillar and the primary driving force of bilateral relations"Read moreRussian stocks close mixed on WednesdayBCS World of Investment projects the dollar exchange rate for Thursday at 84.5-85.2 rubles, and the yuan at 12.6-12.7 rublesRead moreZelensky hopes to meet with Trump after September 20 — mediaLa Stampa quoted Vladimir Zelensky as saying that he wants "to raise the issue of supplies of American air defense systems"Read moreMedvedev calls for improving UN institutesThe system for implementing UN decisions also needs improvement, Security Council's deputy chairman addedRead moreVietnamese leader describes talks with Putin as ‘highly successful’To Lam says the sides noted that the strategic partnership of the two countries "has reached a positive, practical and comprehensive progress, anchored by shared interests and with a solid foundation of mutual trust"Read moreApple unveils iPhone 18 Pro, Pro MaxThe smartphones will be available in four colors: black, silver, glacier, and burgundyRead moreRussia’s Dan-T munition visually similar to Banderol missile — expert"One of the munition’s main competitive advantages is its significantly lower cost compared to Western counterparts," Alexander Stepanov saidRead moreFSB detains Ukrainian agent gathering information on UK diplomats in Moscow: what is knownThe Russian worked as a security guard at the UK Embassy in MoscowRead moreRussian, Vietnamese delegations sign multiple documents after talks in MoscowVladimir Putin and To Lam have discussed the present-day state and prospects for further development of the Russian-Vietnamese comprehensive strategic partnershipRead moreTrump says Iran nuclear deal was among the worst ones in historyThe conflict with Iran would end shortly after the midterm elections, the US president said separatelyRead moreLogistics centers, cargo terminal, warehouses hit: group strikes by Russian Armed ForcesUkrainian media reported explosions overnight and on Wednesday morning in Kiev, Nikolayev, Romny in the Sumy Region, and in KharkovRead moreFSB detains SBU agent in Moscow for gathering information on UK diplomatsHe was gathering information for Ukrainian blogger Dmitry KarpenkoRead moreUS may hit Iran over activity at suspected nuclear facility — TrumpThe US president did not rule out an attack on Pickaxe MountainRead moreZelensky’s 'aerial blackmail', Europe’s anti-Russian hysteria: diplomat’s statementsThe situation with the Professor Molchanov vessel is far from being resolved, Maria Zakharova said Read moreRussia to propose business forum with Germany, US and AfD in 2027 — envoyKirill Dmitriev said the main goal of the event is to "revive business dialogue and bring common sense back"Read moreLavrov recalls Putin’s words that if Europe attacks Russia, the war will be 'short'The Russian foreign minister noted that the head of state repeated several times that Moscow is not going to attack several timesRead moreRussia’s ex-Sports Minister Kolobkov nominated for FIDE vice president postPavel Kolobkov served as the Russian minister of sports between October 2016 and January 2020Read moreUS envoys leave Kiev in shock over Zelensky entourage’s behavior — lawmakerAnna Skorokhod recalled that David Arakhamia, the head of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Servant of the People party, was wearing a "Kiev regime" T-shirt while speaking with the US envoysRead moreRussian retaliatory strikes for Ukraine’s attacks carry graver consequences, Lavrov saysAccording to the Russian foreign minister, the end of Ukraine is not a happy one, so he feels sorry for BritainRead moreUS not currently seeking talks or deal with Iran — TrumpThe US president did not rule out negotiations with TehranRead moreRussian diplomat slams Zelensky’s threats to Russia aviation as blatant terrorismMaria Zakharova added that Ukraine is a state that is fully affiliated with terrorist activitiesRead moreZarubezhneft reaches production sharing agreement for blocks on Vietnamese shelfThe Russian company and PetroVietnam also exchanged a framework agreement on cooperation in the implementation of the project to establish a strategic oil reserve, and an investment cooperation dealRead moreKiev planned terrorist attacks in Moscow against UK envoy, diplomats as provocation — FSBThe FSB detained a former UK embassy security guard who was a Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) agent gathering information on British diplomatsRead moreMedvedev says cyberspace is battlefield where Russia must defend its bordersRussia is cooperating in countering transborder cyberthreats with friendly countries, primarily its partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and a number of Asian, Middle East, and Latin American states, Security Council's deputy chairman saidRead moreHouthis attack three Saudi cities with missiles, drones — coalitionYemen’s rebel Ansar Allah movement attacked Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jizan with ballistic missiles and drones, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition, reportedRead moreOver 50 shelling attacks by Ukrainian troops reported in DPR in past day, two killedNine people were woundedRead moreCanadian PM to meet with Zelensky in Calgary on September 10The meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. GMTRead moreAbu Dhabi as venue for talks, Ukraine peace roadmap: Kremlin aide’s statementsYury Ushakov said that Moscow and Washington discussed the possibility of resuming contacts with Ukraine on a peaceful settlement, including trilateral talksRead morePutin, To Lam open laboratory at Russian-Vietnamese scientific centerThe leaders of the two countries took part in the ceremony via videoconferenceRead morePutin says volume of trade between Russia, Vietnam does not match potentialIn the first half of this year, trade grew by another 13.8%, Russian President Vladimir Putin notedRead moreEight civilians injured after attack by Ukrainian uncrewed boats on SochiThe beach infrastructure and an adjacent embankment section were partially damagedRead moreRussia-Vietnam talks lead to mutually beneficial agreements — PutinAs the Russian president stressed, that talks were substantiveRead moreTrump expects war with Iran to end after US midterm electionsThe US president claimed that Iran may try to interfere with the US electionsRead moreRussia, Vietnam sign 17 deals including on partnership in nuclear, oil, gas sectorsАn agreement on cooperation in the regulation of nuclear and radiation safety in the use of atomic energy was also signedRead moreKremlin comments on potential Putin-Trump meeting, reasons for Kiev's 'flexibility'Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have not discussed the specifics of a potential meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in ChinaRead moreAnnual inflation in Russia totals 6.29% from September 1 to 7 — ministryPrices changed by 0.05% during the week of September, the Economic Development Ministry reportedRead moreIran strikes two US destroyers with ballistic missiles — IRGCAccording to the statement, the strikes inflicted significant damage on the shipsRead moreMedvedev anticipates soon ‘peaceful death’ of International Criminal CourtThe problem is that the ICC is based on the principle of universal jurisdiction even over those countries that have not signed its founding documents, Security Council's deputy chairman explainedRead moreTrump suggests Strait of Hormuz be renamed Trump StraitThe US president separately said he is convinced that oil prices would go down after the US wins the war with IranRead moreBattlegroup South infantry begins assault on Druzhkovka — Russian Defense MinistryAccording to the report, the units are operating according to a standard planRead morePentagon says NATO must be prepared for ‘protracted conflict’ in UkraineElbridge Colby added that the authority "cannot predict" the duration of the conflictRead moreUAE warned Israeli PM of looming Hamas attack before October 7 — newspaperHaaretz cites sources from a new book on the incident as saying that about ten days before the attack, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called Benjamin Netanyahu to warn him that Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major attack on IsraelRead moreDeath toll from Nepal’s flooding rises to 1,374 — TVMore than 5,100 people remain missingRead moreRussia receives $3.77 bln in revenue from migration processes over 1.5 yearsThe Russian president clarified that the federal budget received more than $705.47 mln of that amount, while regional budgets received more than $2.94-$3.06 blnRead moreBanning Alternative for Germany cannot solve country’s problems — MerzThe German chancellor says the AfD should be challenged through political debate, and efforts should be made to convince citizens of the merits of the policies being pursuedRead moreUS could stop providing assistance to Ukraine for speedy peace — Kremlin aideYury Ushakov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, earlier "discussed the issue of achieving a peaceful settlement"Read moreIAEA new anti-Iranian resolution fraught with new round of escalation — Russian diplomatMikhail Ulyanov said that the US and the E3 nations are systematically turning the IAEA Board of Governors into a "conveyor belt of provocative anti-Iranian attacks"Read moreOver 100,000 people sign petition asking FIFA to open probe into chief InfantinoThe FairSquare human rights organization previously submitted a letter to the FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, demanding that Gianni Infantino be declared ineligible to run for a new presidential term in the upcoming electionRead moreRussia, Vietnam to strengthen cooperation in countering extremismIn this context, Russia and Vietnam stressed the need for their competent authorities to exchange best practices and enhance cooperationRead moreHysteria following Leipzig drone incident is planned escalation — MFARussian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the widespread dissemination of baseless, false, and even absurd accusations has become a mandatory element of the information war against RussiaRead moreRussia destroys 675 Ukrainian warplanes over course of special opThe Russian Defense Ministry published footage of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 being destroyedRead moreZelensky’s ex-spokesperson no longer sure Ukraine will retain statehoodYulia Mendel said the society itself is wearing downRead moreGermany’s AfD leader calls for resumption of Russian gas supplies amid low storageAlice Weidel stressed that gas injection must be the top priorityRead moreBank of Russia lowers dollar exchange rate to 85.46 rubles for September 10The official euro exchange rate has been lowered by 1 ruble and 24.64 kopecks to 99.2525 rublesRead moreVietnam, Russia to bring trade turnover to $15 bln by 2030 — To LamVietnam's president said that Hanoi welcomes increased investment by Russian companies in the development of renewable energy and the oil and gas sector, as well as in the exploration of deep-sea resourcesRead moreRussia-Vietnam trade growth surges in first half of year — PutinThe Russian president said that it increased by nearly 6% last yearRead morePutin gave Trump objective analysis of special military operation — Kremlin aideYury Ushakov added that Vladimir Putin presented Russia's view of the prospects for progress on the battlefieldRead moreNo need in mobilization in Russia — MedvedevThe deputy chairman of the Security Council said the needs of the armed forces are fully met by contract soldiers and volunteersRead moreRussia, China, Niger vote against anti-Iranian IAEA resolution — sourceThe Western-backed resolution has been adopted anyway, but not unanimouslyRead moreAfrican, Asian countries show great interest in Russia’s Yak-130M aircraft — test pilotAlexander Guskov noted that the main focus of the aircraft’s modernization was on improving its combat capabilitiesRead moreWhite House may reduce role of Witkoff, Kushner in Ukraine’s peace process — FTAccording to the newspaper, the White House has long been examining the possibility of reforming its negotiating team after the peace process stalledRead moreRussia can raze Kiev to ground but feels responsible for humankind’s future — MedvedevSecurity Council's deputy chairman called this scenario "a point of no return for the entire planet"Read moreIran to ban ships that enter restricted zone from ever crossing Strait of Hormuz — IRGCThe restricted waters will be located east of the Strait of Hormuz, including the port city of ChabaharRead moreWhite House calls FT data on possible change in composition of US negotiators inaccurateWhite House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that none of these supposed conversations are happeningRead moreKiev knows what needs to be done for peaceful settlement — PeskovThe Russian Presidential Press Secretary said the Kiev regime is currently “in a very difficult situation” caused by shortages of funds and weapons"Read moreRussian, Vietnamese presidents adopt statement to further strengthen strategic partnershipThe document is structured into three partsRead moreEU court upholds for third time refusal to lift sanctions from Abramovich — rulingThe EU court has already taken similar decisions on Abramovich in December 2023 and September 2025Read moreVietnam, Russia to back each other up with strong political support — President To LamThe president of Vietnam emphasized that he "always supports Russia’s stable and strong development, as well as its increasingly significant role in the regional and global architecture"Read moreIsrael violated ceasefire with Lebanon 7,700 times since June 26 — Lebanese militaryThe Lebanese army rejected Israel’s claims that it was allegedly unable to fulfill the mission of ensuring security in the so-called pilot zonesRead moreRussia, Vietnam have solid groundwork for cooperation in hydropower — PutinThe Russian president noted that over a third of Vietnam’s hydropower generation capacity was designed and built with the participation of Russia's specialistsRead moreUS, Israeli guarantees needed for IAEA to be granted full access to Iranian nuke sitesRussian Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that the IAEA director general could play a constructive role in securing such guarantees in his contacts with the countries concernedRead moreBattlegroup South infantry begins assault on Druzhkovka — Russian Defense MinistryRussian forces used precision-guided weapons to hit a warehouse of an enterprise producing unmanned boats, drones and components for them in Kiev overnightRead moreKnyaz Vandal drones have no counterparts worldwide — special op participantTimur Syrtlanov emphasized that the special military operation had given a powerful impetus to the development of the domestic military-industrial complexRead moreRDIF CEO accused FT of disseminating disinformation to derail Russia-US dialogueKirill Dmitriev commented on a post by the White House deputy press secretary, refuting the newspaper's statement that the authority had declined to comment on the information in its articleRead moreUS Department of Energy raises this year’s forecast for price of barrel of Brent to $91.01The price of Brent crude is expected to average $73.74 per barrel in 2027, declining as global oil production rises and inventories recoverRead morePoll finds 45% of voters in eastern Germany support AfD, while only 12% back Merz's partyThe Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens each receive 9% supportRead moreApple unveils its first foldable iPhoneThe smartphone unfolds horizontally and features an asymmetrical body when closedRead moreRussia transferred Professor Gagarinsky vessel to Vietnam in 2025 — PutinAccording to the Russian president, the fully equipped floating research station is operated by specialists from the Tropical CenterRead moreRussia, Vietnam share similar approaches to international issues — PutinThe Russian leader said that Moscow and Hanoi firmly defend the principles of the rule of the international law, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairsRead moreNearly 11 mln barrels of oil transit Strait of Hormuz daily — US energy secretaryAccording to Chris Wright, the data as of Wednesday morning "were at the highest since the start of the conflict"Read morePutin describes talks with Vietnamese counterpart as productiveThe Russian leader said the sides addressed key bilateral and international issuesRead moreMoscow, Hanoi to continue building Nuclear Science and Technology Center in VietnamAccording to the joint statement, it is a key element of cooperation in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energyRead moreSeveral US warplanes damaged after Iranian strikes on Jordan — TVSources told CBS that the fighter jets have been repaired and are operational againRead moreRussia, Vietnam agree to expand cooperation in oil, gas sectorThe parties regard cooperation in the fuel and energy sector as a strategic breakthrough in Russian-Vietnamese relations that contributes to ensuring the two countries’ energy securityRead moreVolunteers collect more than 290 tons of waste during cleanup season on YamalThe expeditions' participants collected the waste and scrap metal that had accumulated over decades of the North's developmentRead moreINNOPROM India international industrial expo kicks off in New DelhiThe exposition features over 130 Russian and Indian participantsRead moreKremlin spokesman comments on Ukraine settlement roadmaps, budget deficit, gas pricesRussia expects the launch of trilateral Russian-US-Ukrainian negotiations in the foreseeable future, Dmitry Peskov said Read moreReserve FPV interceptor drone units to be formed in Moscow Military DistrictThe new units are being created to rapidly counter enemy unmanned aerial vehicles, ensuring reliable protection of military and civilian infrastructure facilitiesRead moreMeeting with CIA director 'businesslike, friendly' — Russian intel chiefEverything was professional and clear, Sergey Naryshkin said Read moreRussia, US have much to talk about — Russian diplomatMaria Zakharova commented on a potential meeting between the Russian and US presidents on the sidelines of the APEC summit in China and potential topics for dialogueRead moreRussia-Vietnam defense partnership not directed against anyone — statementThe two countries have agreed to intensify delegation exchanges, primarily at the high levelRead moreMillions of KVN fiber-optic drones delivered to Russia’s special op zone — developer"To this day, the KVN’s effectiveness as a frontline strike drone has not diminished," Alexey Chadayev said Read moreFour people killed, 29 others injured in Novorossiysk, 596 UAVs: attack aftermathAs many as four people, including a child, were killed in a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar RegionRead moreRussia-Vietnam strategic partnership rests on strong bonds of combat brotherhood — PutinThe Russian leader recalled that "the Soviet Union once did a great deal to help the young Vietnamese state withstand the struggle for freedom and independence"Read moreRussia developing protective system to safeguard warehouses from dronesThe system consists of three types of netting, ropes, cables, and special protective matsRead moreRussia, Vietnam oppose sanctions, seizure of countries' assetsMoscow and Hanoi do not support the drawing of dividing lines on ideological groundsRead moreIN BRIEF: Civilian killed as Ukraine launches 448 drones at Russia overnightTwenty-eight civilians were injured in a Ukrainian unmanned boat attack on the seafront in the Black Sea resort of SochiRead morePress review: Canada hits back at US tariffs and Spain faces scrutiny over Russian claimsTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 9thRead more

Source: TASS English
RELATED NEWS

More Stories

All News
Russia

South Africa processes over 86,000 foreigners for deportation

• What happened: South Africa has processed 86,596 foreign nationals for deportation or repatriation between June 14 and August 20, amid rising tensions over un...

Russia

Indian regional airlines to buy 105 Russian planes

• What happened: Three Indian regional airlines have signed agreements to purchase a total of 105 Russian Il-114-300 passenger aircraft, with Pinnacle Air acqui...

Russia

US warplanes damaged in Iranian strike on key airbase – CBS

• What happened: Multiple US military aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, with one A-10 Thunderbolt suf...

Russia

Kiev deliberately targeting Zaporozhye NPP employees — Russian envoy

• What happened: The Russian envoy to international organizations, Mikhail Ulyanov, reported that Ukraine is deliberately targeting employees of the Zaporozhye ...

Russia

Nearly 200,000 foreigners violating Russian laws barred from entering country — ministry

• What happened: The Russian Interior Ministry has barred approximately 200,000 foreigners from entering the country due to violations of Russian laws, with a s...

Russia

Europe seeks to deport Ukrainians who arrived as refugees — Foreign Intelligence Service

• What happened: The European Commission has instructed EU member states to create mechanisms for the deportation of Ukrainian refugees back to Ukraine. • Why...