Russian Spy Ring Jailed for 50 Years in UK Seaside Guesthouse

Six members of a Bulgarian spy ring operating on behalf of Russia have been sentenced to a combined total of around 50 years in prison for conducting extensive espionage activities from a rundown guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, UK. The group, led by Orlin Roussev, carried out surveillance on Russian dissidents, journalists, and Ukrainian troops across multiple European countries, putting lives and national security at risk. The spies used code names inspired by popular films and employed fake identities and advanced technology to gather intelligence, with plans reportedly including kidnapping and assassination attempts against targets such as Bellingcat journalist Christo Grozev. The operation was directed by Jan Marsalek, a fugitive former executive of the collapsed Wirecard payment company, acting as a liaison for Russian intelligence. Members including female agents Ivanova and Gaberova played key roles, with Gaberova described as finding the spying 'exciting and glamorous.' The case is considered one of the largest and most complex foreign intelligence operations uncovered on UK soil, with all convicted individuals liable for deportation upon completing their sentences.