A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has been jailed for spying for Russia, a development that has alarmed Whitehall. The sting, orchestrated by Kyiv’s security services, exposes the depth of Moscow’s penetration into Ukraine’s apparatus – a sobering read for Downing Street.
Sources tell me the official, a high-ranking officer in the SBU, was feeding classified position reports and military plans to his FSB handlers. The timing is no accident. As Ukraine readies its spring counter-offensive, every leak is a bullet.
Westminster’s reaction has been muted but telling. A defence source warned: “If they can get someone that close to the top, they can get anyone.” The UK has long hyped its intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. This sting proves the Russians are still winning the mole war.
The official – name still under wraps – will serve 15 years. But the damage is likely done. Polling in Ukraine shows rising anxiety about fifth columnists. President Zelensky has purged the SBU before. This suggests the cancer has returned.
Whitehall’s eyes are now on the Fifth Column at home. Boris Johnson’s old “Russia report” gathered dust. Now, with a UK intelligence official warning of “Moscow’s reach” into our own institutions, the pressure is on. Expect more counter-intelligence chatter from GCHQ.
The real story is the cold, quiet fear in the corridors of power. The Russians are playing the long game. And they are playing it well.
