Ukraine and Russia have escalated their shadow war of espionage, sabotage, and assassinations, with both countries claiming a growing list of captured agents, intercepted plots, and cross-border attacks.

China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing, days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine. Putin has sometimes described China as an "ally".

Ukraine has “eliminated” two suspected Russian secret agents after a gunfight in a spy den in Kyiv. The man and woman killed were thought to be part of Russia’s FSB and behind the daylight assassination of one of Ukraine’s top spies this week.