West’s spy chiefs alarmed at recklessness of Russian counterparts

After expulsion of hundreds of embassy-based spies, Kremlin has had to use riskier and less conventional methods

A developing Russian campaign of arson, sabotage and even murder plots has left western intelligence agencies alarmed over the past year.

The ramping up of activity has come as the Kremlin’s spy apparatus recovered from the initial shock of seeing 450 agents posing as diplomats expelled from Europe in response to the invasion of Ukraine.