In a shocking discovery, three Bulgarian citizens, Vanya Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, living in London, have been found guilty of spying for Russia. They were part of a secret spy network that carried out surveillance on journalists, former politicians, and even a US military base. The UK police called this one of the largest foreign spying operations ever uncovered in the country.
The three individuals had normal day jobs—a beautician, a healthcare worker, and a decorator. But behind their everyday lives, they were part of a dangerous mission, spying on people and places for Russia. They even planned to kidnap and possibly harm their targets. The tactics they used were straight out of a spy thriller, according to UK authorities.
Secret Gadgets and Dangerous Plans
The group was led by Orlin Roussev, who controlled the spy ring from a large guesthouse in Norfolk, England. When police raided the place, they found a shocking collection of spy gadgets. There were tiny cameras hidden in ties, glasses that could record conversations, and even a fake rock with a secret camera inside. One of the most surprising finds was a Minions plush toy that had a spy camera inside it.
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The spies used these tools to watch their targets closely. Their mission was to follow and gather information on specific individuals, including investigative journalists Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, who had exposed Russia’s involvement in past attacks. In some cases, the spies even planned ways to kidnap or harm their targets. Messages recovered by the police showed that Grozev was described as “hooked and in love” with Gaberova, as they attempted to gain his trust.
Not only did they track journalists, but they also focused on military sites. They carried out surveillance on the Patch Barracks, a US military base in Germany, where Ukrainian soldiers were being trained. This happened around the same time that Russia invaded Ukraine. The group used high-tech devices to try and gather intelligence on the military operations taking place there.
Shocking Details Revealed in Court
During the trial, the court heard about six major spying operations conducted by the group. These included:
- Tracking journalists: The spies followed and monitored Grozev and Dobrokhotov across Europe, even sitting next to them on planes to steal information from their phones. They also discussed extreme measures like robbing, kidnapping, or even killing them.
- Targeting a political figure: A former Kazakh politician, Bergey Ryskaliyev, who had fled to the UK for safety, was also watched closely by the spies. The prosecution suggested that Russia wanted to impress Kazakhstan by helping track him.
- Fake protests for political gain: The group planned to stage a protest outside the Kazakh embassy, pretending they had real intelligence, just to gain favor with Kazakhstan on behalf of Russia.
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- Military surveillance: The spies focused on the US military airbase in Stuttgart, trying to find out details about Ukrainian soldiers being trained there. They used advanced technology to gather information on the people and weapons present.
- Targeting another Russian citizen: Kirill Kachur, a former Russian official who left the country and was later labeled a “foreign agent” by Russia, was also being tracked by the spies.
Authorities seized an overwhelming amount of evidence, including over 200 mobile phones, nearly 500 SIM cards, drones, and devices used to hack into phones and Wi-Fi networks. The police called it an “extremely sophisticated” operation that posed a serious threat to the UK and other countries.
The mastermind behind the group, Roussev, had been recruited as a spy many years ago. He then brought in other Bulgarians, including Biser Dzhambazov and Ivan Stoyanov, to help him carry out secret missions for Russia. One of his close contacts was Jan Marsalek, a wanted criminal in Germany who had deep connections to Russian intelligence services.
This case has shocked the UK, showing just how deep and dangerous foreign spying operations can be. The spies blended into everyday life, working regular jobs while carrying out secret missions. Their conviction is seen as a major success for UK security forces in stopping foreign threats.
