French police have arrested four people, two of them Russian nationals, accused of spying for a foreign power, the Paris prosecutor's office announced Wednesday in an emailed statement. Among those arrested is Anna N., a dual French and Russian citizen, who had been under close surveillance by the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) since January on suspicion of gathering intelligence. The prosecutor's office stated that the investigation indicates Anna N. had contacted executives of various companies in France to try to obtain information related to French economic interests.
The other individuals involved have been identified as Vincent P and Bernard F, both born in France, and Vyacheslav P, a Russian national. Authorities clarified that they had not confirmed the country for which the four suspects allegedly carried out espionage activities. According to the prosecution, Anna N. founded SOS Donbas, an association based in France that publicly advocates for closer ties between Europe and Russia and demands a halt to arms shipments to Ukraine. This organization is known for its public campaigns and for displaying posters in prominent locations.
The charges against Anna N. include organized crime, espionage, obtaining information for a foreign power, and complicity in damaging historical heritage sites. She could face up to 45 years in prison and a fine of €600,000 (US$694,500). The other individuals arrested face similar penalties for their alleged involvement in the same network. The prosecution stated that the investigation is ongoing and that the involvement of more people has not been ruled out.
The arrests in France come amid growing international concern over Russian espionage, a global phenomenon that has gained prominence since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Various intelligence reports in Europe have linked operations by the GRU (Russia's military intelligence service) and the FSB (Russia's security service) to attempts to acquire strategic information and organize acts of sabotage. Germany, for example, has detected the presence of groups planning attacks against civilian and military targets or carrying out cyberattacks against strategic sectors. The United Kingdom, for its part, has dismantled networks dedicated to silencing journalists hostile to the Kremlin through kidnappings and attacks.
The phenomenon has also impacted Latin America, where Russian networks have been dismantled in Argentina and Brazil, targeting recruitment, disinformation, and infiltration of local and regional structures, according to intelligence sources cited by national authorities. Meanwhile, in Russia, the FSB is maintaining an intense internal crackdown on citizens suspected of collaborating with Ukraine, with numerous arrests since the start of the conflict in 2022. The investigations in France thus fit into an international pattern of clashes over intelligence, influence, and security in the context of the war in Ukraine.
