Russian agent ‘wanted successful UK operation after Skripal’

Jurors were told that the alleged spies were able to work out which flights Mr Grozev would be on, with surveillance teams booked onto the planes.

The court was played video taken by Ms Ivanova on a flight from Vienna to Montenegro using “surveillance video glasses”. The video showed Mr Grozev walking down the aisle and captured Ms Ivanova using her phone to send the video on to Dzhambazov.

Roussev and Mr Marsalek also discussed deploying Ms Gaberova as a “honeytrap” on Mr Grozev, after she added him as a friend on Facebook, jurors were told.

They described Ms Gaberova as “very, very assertive and strongly independent” and “sexy”, the court heard.

Ms Morgan said they clearly considered that Ms Gaberova would be capable of pulling off a “honeytrap operation” without being so weak as to fall in love with Mr Grozev.

The jury was also told about an operation involving the surveillance of Bergey Ryskaliyev, a Kazakhstan national and former politician.

Ms Morgan said he was targeted in November 2021 at two central London addresses.

One message from Roussev to Mr Marsalek detailed “DHL, Deliveroo, Just Eat, Pizza Express, all different outfits and the Ambulance of course” that could be used to gain entry to a building.

The jury was shown mobile phone footage filmed by Ms Gaberova outside an address where Mr Ryskaliyev was believed to be staying.

The trial continues.