On Wednesday, Russia’s FSB alleged that the British Council, a UK education and culture organization, has been gathering intelligence for Ukraine.
Russia’s security service claimed the agency, which has not operated in Russia since 2018, was gathering intelligence in parts of the Kherson region held by Russian forces.
“Through organizations under its control carried out intelligence activities in the interests of Kyiv”, the FSB stated.
The British Council did not make an immediate comment.
The FSB claimed that it used Ukrainian refugees living in the UK to obtain military and political intelligence via their contacts in the Kherson region.
It went on to say that a resident of Novaya Maitchka, which is held by Russian soldiers, reported the alleged crime to the occupying authorities.
The FSB stated it would be carrying out checks in the area and warned it might prosecute anyone for confidential collaboration with a government, a crime punishable by eight years in jail.
The British Council was established in 1934. It receives support from the UK government but operates independently.
Moscow banned the British Council in 2018 after London accused Russia of poisoning Russian ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.
