Russian spies pose as diplomats to attack Europe, says Nato

The Russian diplomatic corps is a thinly veiled front for spies preparing “acts of sabotage” as part of President Putin’s covert campaign to fracture European unity, western allies have said.

After a wave of Russian cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns during European elections, Nato defence ministers have gathered to discuss the increased threat and restricting travel rights for Russian embassy officials.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary-general, said that Kremlin spies, operating under the Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor agency to the KGB, are becoming “more active” in Europe.

Accredited diplomats, including spies running clandestine operations, are able to roam the EU’s Schengen border-free area without restrictions.

Now the allies are seeking to crack down, drawing up “tighter restrictions on Russian intelligence personnel”. Reports of Russian