Brussels, Belgium – Despite extensive efforts to dismantle Russian spy networks operating in Brussels since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, intelligence officials warn that many agents remain active, and their tactics have become more aggressive than before the war.
A six-month-long joint investigation conducted by EUobserver, De Morgen, Humo, Le Monde, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has revealed the identities of 20 Russian “diplomats” expelled by Belgium in 2023 over espionage allegations.
These individuals were among the 71 expelled from Belgium as part of a broader European counterintelligence crackdown. However, experts caution that Russia has adapted, and its intelligence operations in the EU capital have not diminished.
Largest Counterintelligence Operation Since the Cold War
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European nations have expelled approximately 750 Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. The mass expulsions were the largest counterintelligence operation in the West since the Cold War.
Among those named in the investigation is elite Russian diplomat Dmitri Iordanidi, who served as an “advisor” at the Russian embassy in Uccle until early 2023.
Previously, he held a senior position at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna and was even photographed alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013.
The list of expelled individuals was confirmed by three independent sources within Western intelligence services. However, Belgium’s State Security Service (VSSE) declined to comment on the findings.
Resurgent Russian Espionage Activities
Despite the expulsion of suspected spies, NATO officials warn that Russia has reconstituted its intelligence operations in Brussels and across Europe.
NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber, James Appathurai, emphasized that Moscow has shifted its tactics to maintain a foothold in EU intelligence circles.
“We saw a diminishment for a little while [after the 750 expulsions] in their ability to conduct malign intelligence operations in our countries, but it has been reconstituted,” Appathurai stated.
He further warned that Russian intelligence services are now recruiting agents online, enlisting individuals and criminal networks to carry out sabotage operations across Europe. These efforts include “sabotage, sometimes on politicians’ properties, arson attacks, and even train derailments.”
Appathurai also cited a recently uncovered plot in 2024 to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. The planned attack underscores the increased “risk appetite” of Russian spies since the onset of the Ukraine war.
Concerns over Russian espionage have also prompted Belgian financial company Euroclear, which holds €183 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets, to hire the French security firm Amarante to protect its CEO and seven board members.
The 2023 Wave of Expulsions in Belgium
Since the Ukraine invasion, Belgium has expelled a total of 68 Russian nationals and three Belarusians. The latest round of expulsions in 2023 included 20 Russian diplomats, identified in the investigation as operatives from three main Russian intelligence agencies:
- SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service) – 11 agents
- GRU (Military Intelligence Service) – 7 agents
- FSB (Federal Security Service) – 2 agents
Who Are the Expelled Russian Spies?
Among the expelled diplomats, several high-ranking intelligence officers stood out:
- Dmitri Iordanidi – An elite diplomat recalled to Russia at Belgium’s urgent request.
- Igor Goriachev – Russia’s former “deputy trade representative” in Belgium.
- Andrey Kuznetsov – Chief “trade representative” to Belgium.
- Maxim Tsarkov – Former “third secretary” at the embassy.
- Andrey Egorov – Former “attaché.”
In addition to these key figures, the expelled SVR officers were largely “middle-aged men with respectable CVs,” according to the investigation. Notable names include:
- Aleksandr Chernikov – “Technical staff.”
- Nikolay Egorov – “Counsellor.”
- Sergey Gudilin – “Technical staff.”
- Sergei Tkachenko – “First secretary.”
- Aleksandr Vyskrebentsev – “Attaché.”
- Anton Zaichko – “Attaché.”
Meanwhile, the GRU’s expelled operatives included:
- Sergey Petrikov – Former “technical staff” with ties to arms dealing.
- Sergei Cherepanov – “Second secretary.”
- Aleksandr Degtiarev – “Attaché.”
- Aleksandr Kovalchuk – “Counsellor.”
- Aleksei Sapozhnikov – “Technical staff.”
- Maksim Sokolov – “Technical staff.”
- Dmitri Zamogilnykh – “Technical staff.”
Two expelled individuals were confirmed to be FSB operatives:
- Dmitry Subochev – “First secretary.”
- Igor Echin – “Technical staff.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Future Concerns
The expulsions were bilateral in nature, meaning these diplomats were officially assigned to Russian-Belgian relations rather than EU affairs. However, experts argue that Russian diplomatic missions have long ceased engaging in legitimate diplomatic activities.
“When the Russians invaded Ukraine, their diplomatic staff in Brussels had long since stopped doing diplomatic tasks,” said NATO’s Appathurai.
Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Ministry supports this assessment. “A large contingent of Russian diplomats in Brussels is not necessary,” said spokesperson Pierre Steverlynck.
The diplomatic standoff began even before the 2022 war. In 2021, Belgium expelled eight Russian spies from Moscow’s NATO mission in Brussels. Russia responded by closing NATO’s mission in Moscow, a move that remains in effect today.
The Road Ahead: Russia’s Persistent Espionage Efforts
Despite efforts to curb Russian intelligence activities, analysts warn that Brussels remains a prime target for espionage. As the EU capital, it houses NATO, the European Commission, the European Council, and multiple international institutions—making it an attractive hub for foreign intelligence operations.
While expulsions have disrupted some operations, the Kremlin’s adaptation strategies—including online recruitment of agents, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations—present a continued threat.
With tensions between Russia and the West escalating, security agencies across Europe are expected to remain on high alert. Intelligence officials stress the need for ongoing vigilance and cooperation among Western allies to counter Russia’s evolving espionage strategies.
As Moscow seeks to reassert its intelligence presence in Brussels, the battle between European counterintelligence and Russian espionage is far from over.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
