Mumbai, August 20: Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, a former spy of the British army has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to have hundreds and thousands of sleeper agents operating in the United Kingdom. The former intelligence officer said that the Russian spies or sleeper agents are reportedly targeting military sites in Britain on behalf of the Kremlin for many years.

The development comes a few days after the police arrested three suspected Russian spies in the UK, reports Mirror.Co.UK. Colonel Phil Ingram, an ex-British Army intelligence officer, also said that the moles from Moscow are reportedly blending locally in Britain by working in routine jobs such as computer technicians. He also alleged that Russian spies could surveil army bases and military research establishments. Vladimir Putin Will Be Killed by His Own Inner Circle, Remarks Volodymyr Zelenksyy on One-Year Anniversary of Russia-Ukraine War.

"The number of Russian agents in the UK will be big – certainly hundreds and could well be in the thousands. It’s likely that there will be concentrations of spies in London," Colonel Phil Ingram said. He also alleged that the sleeper agents could be in Wiltshire as there are army bases and research establishments. Wiltshire is home to Porton Down, an establishment where chemical weapons are tested.

The former British spy named a number of places which would be the focus of Russian moles, including naval bases on the south coast and parts of Scotland besides GCHQ, defence and aerospace companies that are reportedly involved in research work. Another intelligence source alleged that Russia lured people into spying by luring them with money. Vladimir Putin Health Update: Russian President Receiving Chemotherapy for Cancer, Confirm Leaked US Documents.

The source also claimed that even Western intelligence services use similar tactics and strategies to target Moscow. The source also stated that there will be a number of people who will be people involved in espionage activity without knowing that they are working for Russia and President Vladimir Putin.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2023 05:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).