Highgate's Russian government Trade and Defence Section premises stripped of diplomatic status

As part of measures to “target and dismantle” Russian spying operations in the UK, the government today stripped two Highgate properties of their diplomatic status.

The decision impacts the Office of the Trade Representative at 33 Highgate West Hill and the Defence Attaché’s Office at 44 Millfield Lane, both near Hampstead Heath.

In addition, the government is expelling the Russian defence attaché, who it said is an “undeclared military intelligence officer”.

Other properties losing their status include Seacox Heath, a Russia-owned property in Sussex. Further restrictions cap the length of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK.

The government summoned the Russian ambassador to relay the measures and to “reiterate that Russia’s actions will not be tolerated”. It said in a statement that the latest in a string of measures follow a “pattern of malign activity carried out both here and abroad in the past year”, believed to be linked to Russia.

It referenced six Bulgarian nationals being charged with conspiring to commit espionage activities in the UK on behalf of Russia, with legal proceedings for all are ongoing.

Last month, a further five people were the first to be charged in connection with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed at the time it related to alleged “hostile activity in the UK in order to benefit a foreign state – namely Russia”.

The government says the UK and its allies believe a number of cyber attacks originate from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), such as targeting UK parliamentarians through spear-phishing campaigns, hacking and leaking UK-US trade documents and interference against a UK think tank working on defending democracy against disinformation.

In Europe, the Russian government has allegedly planned sabotage activities against military aid for Ukraine in Germany and Poland and carried out alleged espionage activity in Bulgaria and Italy; cyber and disinformation activities; air space violations; and GPS jamming with impact on civil aviation.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “These activities bear all the hallmarks of a deliberate campaign by Russia. We are taking action to send a strong deterrence message to Russia and to further reduce the ability of the Russian Intelligence Services to threaten the UK. We will stand firm in the face of the Russian threat to the UK and our way of life.”

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to undermine UK and European security have become increasingly brazen.

“These measures are an unequivocal message to the Russian state – their actions will not go unanswered. Alongside our friends and partners we will continue to stand with Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its malign activity.”

According to the BBC, The Kremlin has not responded publicly to the accusations.

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Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “In addition to the major uplift in our support for Ukraine to £3 billion this year, we are taking robust action to prevent Russia’s malign activity from threatening the UK.

“Together with our allies, we continue to send a powerful message to Putin that we will not tolerate his disruptive efforts and are not cowed by his threats – we will continue to stand up for freedom and democracy for as long as it takes.”

After Russia’s state-backed attack in Salisbury in 2018, the government expelled 23 undeclared Russian intelligence officers from the UK.