The UK has exposed 18 Russian spies involved in cyber-attacks and hacking, targeting media, telecoms providers, and institutions, including energy infrastructure. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced individual sanctions, saying Russia had targeted these sectors recently.
Two of the spies were linked to planting spyware on Yulia Skripal’s device five years before her poisoning in 2018. The incident led to the death of Dawn Sturgess. X-Agent is believed to be connected to Fancy Bear, a group with ties to Russia’s GRU military intelligence unit.
The government aims to increase security by exposing Russian spies and hackers. Lammy stated that GRU spies aim to destabilize Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty, and threaten British citizens’ safety. He warned Putin that the UK won’t tolerate such actions and will take decisive action with sanctions.
Sanctions typically involve asset freezes and travel bans. The government also imposed sanctions on an entity responsible for printing disinformation about health in west Africa. This decision escalates the UK’s strategy, which previously focused on politicians, financial institutions, and military leaders.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/18/lammy-announces-exposure-of-18-russian-spies-after-uk-cyber-attacks