Fri Mar 07 20:58:15 UTC 2025: ## Six Bulgarians Convicted in UK for Large-Scale Russian Spy Ring
**London, UK** – A London jury has convicted three Bulgarian nationals for spying for Russia on a massive scale, revealing a sophisticated operation targeting Ukrainian soldiers, journalists, and Kremlin opponents across Europe. Katrin Ivanova (43), Vanya Gaberova (30), and Tihomir Ivanchev (39) were found guilty Friday at the Old Bailey court. They face up to 14 years in prison, alongside three other Bulgarian members of the spy cell who previously pleaded guilty.
The ring, operating for three years under the direction of alleged Russian agent Jan Marsalek (currently a fugitive believed to be in Russia), carried out surveillance operations in the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany, and Montenegro. The operation was funded by over €200,000 provided to ringleader Orlin Roussev (47).
Among the targets were Ukrainian soldiers training at a US base in Germany, investigative journalist Christo Grozev (Bellingcat), and several other prominent figures including Russian dissidents and a former Kazakh politician. The group even planned a fake blood attack on the Kazakh embassy using a drone.
Police discovered a vast array of sophisticated spy equipment, including devices hidden in everyday objects, at Roussev’s “operations centre” in Great Yarmouth. Commander Dominic Murphy of London police’s Counter Terrorism Command described the operation as “spying on an almost industrial scale.”
The three convicted women claimed to have been manipulated by Dzhambazov, who was involved in a complex romantic relationship with two of them. All defendants remain in custody awaiting sentencing in May. The case highlights the significant reach of Russian intelligence and the lengths to which it will go to target perceived enemies.
First Piper 