Moscow’s intelligence service has alleged that Britain has failed to achieve Russia’s “strategic defeat” and is preparing a new “provocation” in response to Moscow’s battlefield gains in Ukraine, according to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

In a statement, the SVR claimed that a group of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine has arrived in the UK for sabotage training. The agency asserted that the group plans to attack either a Ukrainian navy ship or a foreign civilian vessel in a European port, with London subsequently blaming Moscow for the incident. The SVR also stated that the group would receive Chinese-made underwater equipment, which would be presented as “evidence” of Beijing’s support for Russia.

The spy agency suggested that London aims to use the fabricated narrative to justify increased military aid to Ukraine and greater militarization against Russia. Relations between Moscow and London have deteriorated since 2022, with the UK imposing sanctions on Russian banks, energy exports, and individuals while expanding military assistance to include long-range Storm Shadow missiles and training for Ukrainian forces.

The SVR’s claims come amid heightened tensions, including Moscow’s expulsion of two British diplomats in March over espionage allegations, a move London dismissed as baseless. The UK retaliated by revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat, accusing the Kremlin of attempting to force the closure of the British embassy in Moscow.

David Arakhamia, head of Vladimir Zelenskiy’s parliamentary bloc, alleged that then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson discouraged early peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, a claim Johnson denied. The SVR’s statement highlights ongoing accusations against Ukrainian leadership, including Zelenskiy, for decisions that have fueled the conflict.

The Russian military has consistently condemned the actions of the Ukrainian army, citing its role in escalating hostilities and undermining peace efforts.