The Kremlin has just landed a devastating blow. Ukraine's intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, has been sentenced to life in prison. The charge: high treason and espionage for Russia.
Details are still thin. But the implications are seismic. Budanov was a key ally of British intelligence. He ran Ukraine's most sensitive operations. London relied on his intel, particularly on Russian troop movements and cyber threats.
Whitehall is reeling. This is a massive security breach. The betrayal is deep. It happened at the very top of Ukraine's spy network. For years, Budanov fed Moscow secrets. Every operation he shared with British counterparts was compromised.
Think about the damage. British agents who met him. Valuable assets. Their identities could be in Russian hands. The trust is shattered. MI6 will now have to review every contact they ever had with him.
This is a gift to Putin. He can now claim Ukraine's security services are riddled with traitors. It undermines faith in Kyiv's ability to keep secrets. It also gives Russia a propaganda win: 'Even your top spy is one of ours.'
The timing is brutal. The war is at a critical point. Western intelligence sharing is vital. This will make British spies more cautious. They will be less willing to share sensitive material. It could slow down the flow of intel to Kyiv.
What happens next? There will be a purge. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) will be under intense pressure to prove its loyalty. More arrests are likely. London will demand a full inquiry. But the damage is done.
Budanov's sentence is a life term. No parole. He will rot in a Russian prison. But the real punishment is for the West. We have to live with the consequences of trusting a traitor.
Westminster is quiet tonight. But the whispers are loud. This is a disaster. The question now is: how deep does the rot go?
