FSB accuses UK agency for using Ukrainian refugees to obtain intel

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Feb 2024 23:07
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The FSB said the British Council exploited Ukrainian refugees residing in the UK to obtain military and political intelligence through their contacts in the Kherson region.

The British Council office in London. (Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia's principal security agency on Wednesday stated that a UK organization responsible for education and culture has been collecting information for Ukrainian intelligence.

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the organization in question has been identified as the British Council, and it has reportedly been gathering information in parts of the Russian-administered territories in the Kherson region.

"Through organizations under its control (the British Council) carried out intelligence activities in the interests of Kyiv," the FSB said, adding that it "used Ukrainian refugees living in the UK to obtain military and political intelligence via their contacts in the Kherson region."

A resident of Novaya Maitchka reported the incident to the Russian authorities, the FSB added.

The FSB announced it would conduct "checks" in the region and warned that individuals could face prosecution for "confidential collaboration with a government", a crime that carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.

The British Council, established in 1934, receives funding from the UK government but operates independently. It ceased all operations in Russia in 2018 after Moscow banned the organization following unfounded allegations made by British authorities.

European betrayal

The conflict in Ukraine stems from the 2014 Euromaidan revolts, triggered by then-President Yanukovych's decision to suspend an EU association agreement in favor of closer ties with Russia.

In February 2014, violent clashes between protesters and security forces led to numerous casualties and prompted Yanukovych to flee Ukraine, which led to a coup d'etat and the establishment of a Western-backed interim government.

In March 2014, due to high rates of aggression on ethnic Russians in Ukraine, Russia decided to annex Crimea from Ukraine. Ukraine attempted to regain control of these territories but failed to achieve its goal.

In September 2014, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) announced plans to mediate a ceasefire agreement known as the Minsk Agreement to halt the fighting and establish a framework for a political resolution.

It was later revealed in December 2022 that the ceasefire was part of a plot to "give Ukraine time" to strengthen itself, according to ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which effectively constitutes a betrayal towards Russia.

Boris Johnson encouraged Kiev to refrain from holding negotiations

On February 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed that the only thing to lament is that Russia did not begin military operations in Ukraine sooner.

"The only thing we can regret is that we did not start our active actions [in Ukraine] earlier, believing that we were dealing with decent people," Putin told Rossiya 1.

He further stated that former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's trip to Ukraine in 2022 was funded by the US government, as he was unable to visit the country without first informing Washington when he encouraged Kiev to refrain from holding negotiations with Moscow.

"Former Prime Minister Mr. Johnson could not have traveled [to Ukraine] on his own personal initiative without consulting Washington on the matter. Probably, not only were there such consultations, but I think he simply went on the business trip at the expense of the US administration. They paid him travel expenses for this."