Russia says it has detained former guard at British Embassy in Moscow

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy WILL STEWART and ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 08:13 BST, 10 September 2026 | Updated: 09:11 BST, 10 September 2026

Russia's FSB internal security agency said on Thursday that it had detained a former guard at the British Embassy in Moscow who allegedly collected personal data on British diplomats while working for Ukrainian intelligence. The agency claimed the information was gathered as part of preparations for a Ukrainian false-flag operation targeting British diplomatic staff in Russia, which it said was intended to later allow Kyiv to accuse Moscow of hostile actions.However, there are bound to be suspicions that the operation is an elaborate FSB stunt designed to sow distrust between Britain and Ukraine and disrupt a key axis of Kyiv's defence.Moscow regularly depicts the UK as Ukraine's staunchest Western ally.Footage shows the alleged 45-year-old 'spy' - a Russian citizen employed as a security officer at the British Ambassador's official Residence - being violently overpowered by masked FSB officers in Moscow, and thrown face down on the ground.The alleged agent is accused of supplying military-linked Ukrainian blogger Dmytro 'Apostle' Karpenko with secret details about diplomats and their movements.His supposed 'confession' shows the detainee claiming 'the Ukrainian authorities were very interested in the information for the purpose of carrying out acts of sabotage against the British Ambassador, the Embassy, and the British Residence in Moscow'. Footage shows the alleged 45-year-old 'spy' - a Russian citizen employed as a security officer at the British Ambassador's official Residence - being violently overpowered by masked FSB officers in Moscow The alleged agent is accused of supplying military-linked Ukrainian blogger Dmytro 'Apostle' Karpenko with secret details about diplomatsHe is shown saying: 'I was a member of the security staff at the British Embassy in Moscow.'Specifically, I handled security duties at the British Ambassador's Residence in Moscow.''In January of this year, I contacted Dmitry Karpenko, a Ukrainian blogger and journalist - specifically, a pro-Ukrainian blogger.''I told him I worked at the British Embassy in Moscow. He was very interested in this information - specifically, details about the Ambassador [Nigel Casey], his deputies, other diplomats, and the staff of both the Embassy and the Residence.'He wanted their personal details, addresses, and full names. Information on the vehicles they drove, their movements, the restaurants they visited, and the cities they travelled to; and the arrival and departure times of all staff and diplomats.'He was also extremely interested in the security arrangements - how security and protection were handled at the British Embassy and Residence in Moscow.'This included the access control system, events held on the Residence grounds, and the number of security personnel on duty.'In short, he wanted all information regarding the security of the British Residence and Embassy in Moscow.'When I asked why he needed this, he replied that the Ukrainian authorities were very interested in the information for the purpose of carrying out acts of sabotage against the British Ambassador, the Embassy, and the British Residence in Moscow.'WhatsApp messages were published showing the security operative's alleged communications with blogger Karpenko.They related to the movements of diplomats and who lived in the Residence and its compound.One said: 'The Ambassador's wife lives in Britain but periodically stays here.'Another said: 'The Ambassador is due to arrive tomorrow, Sunday, at 23:25….'The Deputy Ambassador went out for dinner. I don't know with whom. She was away from 20:13 until 00:30.'The suspect has been charged with high treason under Article 275, which can carry life imprisonment.He was employed by an outside organisation providing security to the embassy - not directly by the British government.Russian state news agency TASS claimed: 'The Kyiv regime, in order to preserve itself, is ready to resort to sabotage and terrorist acts against its strategic allies.'