Key facts
- Three men were arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Russia's foreign intelligence service.
- A Russian Australian man, Vladimir Teslov, was charged with foreign interference in Australia.
- Teslov allegedly gathered information on Ukrainian military operations to provide to Russian intelligence.
- Howard Phillips was jailed for seven years for offering himself as a spy to assist Russian intelligence.
- The arrests and charges are part of ongoing investigations into foreign interference and espionage.
Three men have been arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Russia's foreign intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police announced. The individuals, aged 48, 45, and 44, were detained at addresses in west and central London as part of an ongoing investigation under the National Security Act 2023. Searches are continuing at these and another west London address. They have since been bailed until January.
In a separate case, a Russian Australian man, Vladimir Teslov, 27, has been charged with foreign interference by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Investigators allege Teslov travelled to Russia in October 2024 for military-style training before returning to Australia. He is further alleged to have travelled to Ukraine in May 2025, joining the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gather information on military personnel, units, and locations, with the intent to pass this to individuals believed to be acting on behalf of Russian intelligence. The AFP stated this conduct created a risk to Ukrainian military personnel and that Australia would not be a safe haven for foreign interference.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Howard Phillips, 66, was sentenced to seven years in prison for offering himself as a spy to assist the Russian Intelligence Service. Phillips was arrested in May 2024 after interactions with undercover officers, during which he offered to provide personal details of a former cabinet minister and logistical support for Russian espionage. Commander Dominic Murphy of Counter Terrorism Policing London highlighted the serious consequences for those who act on behalf of Russian intelligence, noting that convictions under the National Security Act can lead to lengthy prison sentences.
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