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HMG Russia Unit

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 HMG Russia Unit
Formation2017
MembershipJames Beer, Darren Paul Boyling, Alistair Charles Jeudwine Bridgwood, Jessica Davenport, Karenza Anna Dean, Callum Andrew Duff, Grace Elvin, James William Thomas Ford, Katharine Mcdonnell, Derek Moir-Smith, Alkesh Odedra, Blake Patel, Andy Pryce, Edward Pryor Wilkes, Rebecca Speedie, Christian A Stephen-Martin, Thomas Stevenett (Thomas John Hickson Stevenette), Erin Treasure, Joanna Clare Vallat, Andrew Wells
Brings together intelligence capabilities from across government since it appears that the unit is staffed almost exclusively by intelligence officers.
File:Russia Policy Department-HMG Russia Unit-Screenshot 2025-12-19 at 10.42.37.png
Alleged screenshot of the FCDO Intranet on the Russia Policy Department and the HMG Russia Unit

HMG Russia Unit is part of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECAD) Directorate in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office created in 2017. According to the government it "brings together the UK's diplomatic, intelligence and military capabilities'. This would appear to mean that init brings together intelligence capabilities from across government since it appears that the unit is staffed almost exclusively by intelligence officers.

A leaked screenshot of the FCDO Intranet describes the Unit as follows:

Cross-government unit, co-located with EECAD, Responsible for developing and implementing the NSC Russia Strategy, and ensuring delivery across policy, military, intelligence and law enforcement. Manages governance for the strategy and monitors progress. Oversees delivery of campaigns owned by FCDO, MOD, HO, the SIA, BEIS etc. Liaison point for covert aspects of EECAD work.

In a 2021 response to the Intelligence and Security Committee report on Russia, the government noted:

The Government has long recognised there is an enduring and significant threat posed by Russia to the UK and its allies, including conventional military capabilities, disinformation, illicit finance, influence operations, and cyber-attacks. As such, Russia remains a top national security priority for the Government. This is why in 2017 the Government implemented the NSC-endorsed Russia Strategy, and in 2017 established the cross-Government Russia Unit which brings together the UK’s diplomatic, intelligence and military capabilities to maximum effect. The Government’s Russia Strategy does not just respond to the here and now; it is a 30 year strategy, designed in the long-term to move from a relationship of confrontation and challenge, which currently threatens our collective security and values, to a relationship where Russia chooses to work alongside the international community. The integrated and established nature of the Strategy and the Russia Unit was paramount to the immediate nature of the effective and coherent Salisbury response. We haveJames Beer - Strat Comms and Media development unit
  • Karenza Anna Dean Senior Policy Advisor, Russia Unit. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Sep 2019 - Jun 2022 2 years 10 months. London, England, United Kingdom.[2]
  • Derek Moir-Smith Senior Advisor, HMG Russia Unit (Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECAD) Department Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office · Full-time Apr 2019 - Feb 2025 · 5 yrs 11 mos London, England, United Kingdom[3]
  • Andy Pryce
  • Rebecca Speedie - Policy and Programme Manager, Russia Unit. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Nov 2019 - Dec 2020 1 year 2 months. London, England, United Kingdom.[4]
  • Erin Treasure Campaigns Manager HMG Russia Unit, FCDO Jan 2021 - Apr 2022 · 1 yr 4 mos[5]
  • Andrew Wells 2018 - 2019 Deputy Head of Strategic Communications, HMG Russia Unit, FCO, London.[6]

Exposed by the Russians in 2013

Expelled by the Russians in September 2024

File:GXVnCrgXAAApxgE.jpg
Mugshots of the alleged British spies. L-R from top Blake Patel, 2, 3, Jessica Davenport, Callum Duff, Tom Stevenette
File:1536305161994.jpeg
Jessica Davenport, alleged British spy

Expelled by the Russians in November 2024

Expelled by the Russians in March 2025

  • Alkesh Odedra shown in recent years that the UK takes the threat from Russia extremely seriously and will respond to and call out Russian aggression wherever it occurs.[11]

Programmes

People

See also


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References

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