The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has found itself at the center of an international espionage scandal, which has unfolded amid growing interest in the Greek port of Alexandroupolis. This strategically important transport hub has become a key point for the supply of military equipment from the U.S. and NATO to Ukraine, attracting close attention from both Russia and Turkey. Over the past 24 hours, Greek law enforcement uncovered a suspected spy network in the city, beginning with the arrest of a 59-year-old ethnic Greek from Georgia, a permanent resident of Alexandroupolis, who worked as a painter, as reported by Protothema.
The investigation has revealed that the suspect was gathering information on the military infrastructure in the Evros region, where significant NATO efforts have been concentrated in recent years. Greek intelligence services and the police have launched a large-scale investigation into a possible network operating in the interests of foreign intelligence agencies. The focus has been on the suspect's potential connections to an individual known as "Vichentios," who was previously arrested in Lithuania on charges of espionage. According to Greek authorities, "Vichentios" personally arrived in Alexandroupolis and provided the arrested individual with instructions on how to discreetly photograph military sites while posing as a tourist.
Despite the suspect not raising initial suspicions — he was known in the area as a humble worker, a father of two, and a former soldier in the Russian army in Siberia — he had been actively gathering information on the movement of military equipment. Authorities emphasize that there are concerns regarding the fact that his son serves in the Greek army, although no official accusations have been made against him. The accused admitted that he had sent collected materials to his handler at least twice, the most recent being about a month ago. During a search, a bullet was found in his possession, leading to an additional charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
His handler is believed to be linked to Russian intelligence services and simultaneously to a criminal organization in Eastern Europe involved in arms trade, drug trafficking, and contract killings. Under the direction of this individual, the 59-year-old spy sent audiovisual materials using messengers and other digital tools, suggesting the presence of a wider network of agents covering the Balkans.
The investigation is currently focused on analyzing the arrested man's mobile phone, which may contain images of NATO depots or Greek military sites. The man claims that he was only documenting the transportation routes of military equipment from the port to the north, towards Bulgaria. However, investigators suspect that the scope of the collected information may be much broader.
Alexandroupolis, which has strengthened its position as a U.S. outpost in Southeastern Europe in recent years, has become a hub for espionage activities. This port is actively used for the delivery of military aid to Ukraine. Turkey has openly expressed its dissatisfaction with the presence of an American base in the region, while Russia, facing significant logistical challenges in its war against Ukraine, has a direct interest in undermining the infrastructure supporting Kyiv's allies.
In this context, sources in Greek intelligence emphasize that the Evros region has long been under heightened surveillance due to the potential activities of both Turkish intelligence MIT and Russian intelligence services.
Moreover, special concern was raised by an intervention in the sale of one of the central hotels in Alexandroupolis. A foreign company showed interest in the property, but the deal was unexpectedly canceled when it became clear that the building provided a full visual access to the port. This confirmed Athens' concerns: intelligence agencies trying to establish a presence literally steps away from NATO military facilities is no longer a theory, but a reality.
