FSB Arrests Former British Embassy Guard Accused of Gathering Intel for Ukraine

Sep. 10, 2026 nac.gov.ru Russia’s FSB security service said Thursday that it arrested a former guard at the British Embassy in Moscow for allegedly gathering sensitive information on British diplomats on behalf of Ukraine. The agency alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services planned to use the information to carry out a false-flag attack targeting British diplomatic personnel. According to the FSB, Ukraine intended to frame Russia for the operation to “draw the United Kingdom into a direct military conflict with Russia” and secure increased military aid from London. Russian authorities said the former guard, who has not been named, collected sensitive data, including diplomats’ personal details, photos, home addresses, vehicles used, itineraries, security systems and internal embassy schedules. The FSB said the former guard was placed in pre-trial detention and faces treason charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison for men. The maximum sentence for women is 20 years in prison. The Moscow Times contacted the British Embassy for comment. Russia’s FSB has regularly announced the arrests of people accused of working on behalf of Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Individuals facing these accusations are often charged with treason. Read more about: FSB , United Kingdom , Ukraine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more FSB Arrests Alleged Ukrainian Agents Over Plotting Moscow Attack and Espionage One of the people was accused of spying on trains carrying petroleum products at a Moscow railway station and surveilling government buildings in the Russian... 1 Min read U.K. Behind Major Drone Attack on Russian Airfields, FSB Chief Claims Alexander Bortnikov also alleged that Britain and Ukraine were plotting an attack on TurkStream, the only route delivering Russian gas to Europe. 2 Min read Russian Security Chiefs Blame Concert Attack on Ukraine, West FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov claimed that Ukrainian and Western special services "facilitated" Friday's deadly shooting. 2 Min read Russian Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years for Offering State Secrets to Ukraine A Russian man has been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison on treason charges, security services said Thursday, in the latest case involving...