Former-Spy's Death Spotlights Russian Espionage Activities

The poisoning, and subsequent death, of Former-KGB Colonel Aleaxander Litvinenko has put an unwelcome spotlight on Russian intelligence activities in the UK.

A report in London's Telegraph newspaper says there are "30 or more" spies working out of the Russian embassy located in Kensington.

"There is still a significant Russian spy presence in Britain, mainly represented by the GRU military intelligence and the SVR, the new name for the overseas operations of the old KGB.

The FSB, which some claim was behind the alleged assassination plot, is Russia's internal security apparatus - the equivalent of MI5 in Britain."

A similar Financial Times article says President Putin has increased the intelligence service's budgets and that,

"...the [UK] activities are in three main areas: traditional efforts aimed at gathering government information; the collection of sensitive scientific and technological information; and a growing effort to monitor the activity of Russian dissidents in London."