Police in the United Kingdom have arrested three men on suspicion of assisting Russia’s foreign intelligence service, highlighting concerns over Moscow’s growing espionage and cyber campaigns against the UK.

The Metropolitan Police announced the arrests on Thursday. The suspects, aged 44, 45, and 48, were taken from locations in west and central London under the 2023 National Security Act, which criminalizes assistance to foreign intelligence services.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of who we would describe as ‘proxies’ being recruited by foreign intelligence services, and these arrests are directly related to our ongoing efforts to disrupt this type of activity,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of counterterrorism policing in London.

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Ongoing Counter-Espionage Efforts

Authorities are conducting searches at the suspects’ addresses, with counterterrorism police leading the investigation. The UK has long expressed concerns about Russia’s espionage, sabotage, and cyber-interference campaigns, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Last year, six men were sentenced for an arson attack on Ukraine-linked businesses in east London, allegedly ordered by the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Dylan Earl, the ringleader, became the first person convicted under the National Security Act.

Ken McCallum, head of MI5, emphasized that Russia is “committed to causing havoc and destruction,” and noted that UK authorities disrupted multiple surveillance plots over the past year aimed at individuals perceived as enemies by Russian leaders.

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Russia Denies Involvement

The Kremlin has denied involvement in any acts of sabotage in the UK, accusing British authorities of repeatedly blaming Russia for negative events on UK soil.