Minions of Moscow: Spy Ring Busted in the UK

In a dramatic court case that shocked the UK, six Bulgarian nationals have been jailed for operating a spy ring on behalf of Russian intelligence. The group conducted covert missions across Europe, targeting journalists, dissidents, and Ukrainian soldiers, all while using Britain as their base of operations.

Nicknamed “the minions” after the cartoon characters they referenced in secret messages, the spies used high-tech gadgets, including a cuddly toy rigged with a hidden camera, to gather intelligence. Their leader, Orlin Roussev, was sentenced to over 10 years in prison, while others received similarly long sentences for their roles in the conspiracy.

The court heard they worked under the direction of Jan Marsalek, a fugitive tied to the Wirecard financial scandal, now believed to be hiding in Moscow. Prosecutors revealed how the group’s actions posed a serious threat to national security and democratic values like press freedom.

Officials say the case marks one of the most significant espionage threats in recent years and is a stark warning of how modern spy craft is being outsourced and weaponized in the digital age.