The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on a senior Russian intelligence officer described as Vladimir Putin's 'psychological warfare chief', accusing him of orchestrating clandestine operations designed to sow division and chaos across Europe.
The Sanctioned Operative and His Network
Colonel Denis Alexandrovich Smolyaninov, 49, heads a covert team within Russia's GU military intelligence service, the entity formerly known as the GRU. He is among 11 operatives sanctioned by the UK government in the wake of the final report from the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, published on 4 December 2025.
The inquiry concluded that the Russian state was morally responsible for the death of Dawn Sturgess, 44, who died in 2018 after coming into contact with the Novichok nerve agent used in the attempted assassination of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.
Smolyaninov's unit is assessed to be attempting to 'drive a wedge between NATO allies' using tactics of hybrid warfare. His methods involve employing a 'chain of curators' to recruit individuals in Western nations, with those at the end of the chain often unaware they are working for Russian special services.
A Model for 'Deniable' Sabotage
Investigators from The Dossier Centre, which tracks Kremlin-linked criminal activity, provided insight into Smolyaninov's operations. They describe a model that is 'low-cost, deniable, and scalable.'
'Denis Smolyaninov and his network of coordinators provide an inside look at one model of how the Russian intelligence services are alleged to organise sabotage operations across Europe,' a Dossier Centre investigator stated.
Since 2022, there has been an increase in recruiting criminal elements and Russian-speakers with EU passports for such acts. This approach is reportedly extending to the UK, with a rise in incidents involving people recruited via encrypted messaging apps like Telegram.
Smolyaninov's dedicated GU team is subdivided into operational units with different specialisms. They use recruited proxies—including pro-Russians, criminals, or activists from the far right or left—to carry out sabotage, stage protests, and execute attacks abroad.
From Salisbury to London: Evolving Tactics
Following the Salisbury attack, which was carried out by three GU agents using the aliases Alexander Petrov, Ruslan Boshirov, and Sergey Fedotov, the UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats. This action removed the traditional embassy cover used for espionage.
In response, Russian intelligence has shifted focus. They now increasingly rely on recruits from other countries, including the UK and Bulgaria, contacted through remote channels.
This new tactic was evident in the case of Dylan Earl, who was convicted for leading an arson attack on a London warehouse containing aid for Ukraine. As a high-ranking GU officer, Smolyaninov has risen to prominence during this period when it is deemed too risky for the agency to deploy its own personnel directly in foreign states.
According to a 2024 European Union document, Smolyaninov 'specialises in psychological operations' and uses Telegram to spread disinformation and recruit agents for sabotage in Europe, aiming to sow division between NATO states.
Sanctions as a 'Public Warning'
The UK government has sanctioned the GU in its entirety, stating the service 'seeks to destabilise Ukraine and attempts to sow chaos and disorder across Europe.' The EU asserts the GU is 'actively preparing explosions, arson and damage to infrastructure' in Europe to slow weapons supplies to Ukraine.
Kevin Riehle, an intelligence and security expert at Brunel University London, told Metro that these public sanctions act as a form of 'public intelligence sharing.'
'They put countries on notice, saying to watch out for certain dangerous individuals,' he said. 'It is in effect saying if this person approaches your embassy or tries to enter your country, you cannot claim not to have known what they were up to.'
Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the sanctions as 'the latest step in our unwavering defence of European security,' adding that the UK continues to 'squeeze Russia’s finances and strengthen Ukraine’s position.'
The other sanctioned GU operatives are: Vladimir Lipchenko, Yuriy Alekseyevich Sizov, Boris Alekseyevich Antonov, Anatoliy Vladimirovich Istomin, Igor Andreyevich Bochka, Aleksey Andreyevich Umets, Denis Igorevich Denisenko, Dmitriy Yuryevich Goloshubov, Pavel Vyacheslavovich Yershov, and Nikolai Yuryevich Kozachek. Viktor Lukovenko, held in Kyrgyzstan on suspicion of recruiting mercenaries for Ukraine, was also named.
