A UK court has heard how a Russian spy ring aimed to compromise Ukrainian soldiers at a US airbase in Germany using advanced surveillance tactics. Defendants Vanya Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev, along with others, are accused of a conspiracy that included disturbing tactics such as creating fake identities and deepfake videos. The prosecution argues that their operations benefited the Russian state and involved spying on high-profile figures, including the Kazakh president’s family. The case highlights escalating tensions and the intersection of espionage and international relations.