Russia's feared killer spy unit GRU building ‘hit list' of Western enemies from MPs to journalists, warns Putin critic

Scottish Sun

30-04-2025

An oligarch turned Putin critic warned the Kremlin uses rent-a-thugs to take out targets
SPY FALL Russia's feared killer spy unit GRU building 'hit list' of Western enemies from MPs to journalists, warns Putin critic
RUSSIA is compiling a "hit list" of western MPs and journalists, an exiled Russian oligarch has claimed.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky said GRU spies had orders to track down Kremlin critics for 'imminent' attacks.
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Former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky listens to his guilty verdict - widely considered to be politically motivated
Credit: EPA
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Four GRU officers captured on CCTV as they stride into the Netherlands
Credit: PA:Press Association
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Vladimir Putin pulls up to the roof of the GRU headquarters in Moscow
Credit: Getty - Contributor
The former Yukos oil baron who spent 10 years in Russian prisons said: 'Putin's spies are building a hit list of journalists, politicians, and public figures across Europe.'
He claimed GRU military intelligence officers tasked agents across Europe to find targets' home and and work addresses.
He said they were compiliing a 'hit list for future operations'.
He added: 'The threat is real and immediate. Those who understand the regime know these intelligence-gathering operations precede direct action.'
The Sun understands least two European journalists on a Russian wanted list have been targeted by Russian spies seeking personal information.
It comes after MI6 warned Russian spies had gone 'feral' across Europe.
Spy chief Sir Richard Moore – who is known as C at the Secret Intelligence Service – said Moscow had unleashed a 'staggeringly reckless campaign' of attacks including putting firebombs on DHL cargo planes.
MI5 spy chief Ken McCallum has also warned Russia was hiring thugs to carry out attacks.
He accused Moscow of plotting "arson, sabotage and more – dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness'.
US and German intelligence said Moscow had planned to kill the chief executive of Rheinmetall, the German armaments giant that supplies Ukraine.
Putin returns mutilated body of female Ukrainian reporter with eyes & brain MISSING after her torture by Russian captors
Khordokovsky, who now lives in London, said attacks on Kremlin critics would be carried out by rent-a-thugs hired on 'anonymous online channels'.
He also suggested Russia might use 'far-right groups or outright criminal elements'.
A GRU team conducted the deadly Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury in 2018 that killed innocent mum-of-three Dawn Sturgess.
Khordokovsky's warning comes after six Bulgarians based in Britain were convicted of spying for Russia, including by conducting surveillance and honey trap missions on investigative journalists.
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Mikhail Khodorkovsky was pardoned and continues to live in exile in London as a Kremlin critic
Credit: Reuters
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Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov in Salisbury, wanted by UK police for the novichok poisonings in 2018
Credit: Metropolitan Police Service
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The two Russians went public after their arrest warrant to claim they were simply tourists in the UK
Credit: AP:Associated Press
The spy ring targeted British based journalist Christo Grozev, from the Bellingcat website, and exiled Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov, from the investigative website the Insider.
Vanya Gaberova, 30, who ran a beauty salon in west London, was ordered to seduce Grozev.
She claimed he was"hooked and in love" in WhatsApp messages shared at the Old Bailey.
They are due to be sentenced next month.