Russian Security Accuses British Council of Spying for Ukraine

Defense News ,Russia Ukraine War :- The Russian security agency, FSB, claimed on Wednesday that the British Council, a UK organization responsible for education and culture, had been collecting information on behalf of Ukraine's intelligence. The FSB alleged that, even though the British Council ceased its operations in Russia in 2018, it continued gathering intelligence in areas of the Kherson region occupied by Russian forces.

According to the FSB, the British Council, through organizations under its control, conducted intelligence activities in favor of Kyiv. The security service further claimed that Ukrainian refugees residing in the UK were utilized to obtain military and political intelligence through their contacts in the Kherson region.

The British Council, when contacted by AFP, did not provide an immediate comment on the allegations. The FSB asserted that a resident of Novaya Maitchka, a region controlled by Russian forces, reported the alleged crime to the occupying authorities.

In response, the FSB announced plans to conduct checks in the area and issued a warning about potential prosecution for "confidential collaboration with a government," a crime carrying a penalty of eight years in prison.

Established in 1934, the British Council receives funding from the UK government but operates independently. Moscow banned the British Council in 2018, following London's accusation of Russia poisoning the former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.