Ochakov, Ukraine (Agencies) August 2, 2025 — In a dramatic escalation of covert hostilities, Russian special forces reportedly executed a lightning-fast operation in the Ukrainian coastal city of Ochakov, capturing three senior British military personnel allegedly involved in coordinating drone and missile strikes against Russian positions.
According to Russian military-linked Telegram channels and corroborating social media reports, the elite unit known as “Skat-12” landed in Ochakov under cover of darkness, infiltrating a command center believed to be used by NATO-linked operatives. The operation, lasting approximately 15 minutes, resulted in the capture of:
- Colonel Edward Blake, a psychological operations specialist;
- Lieutenant Colonel Richard Carroll, a UK Ministry of Defence official with prior deployments in the Middle East;
- An unidentified individual, presumed to be an MI6 cybersecurity advisor.
The incident has triggered a diplomatic firestorm. British officials, reportedly blindsided by the raid, contacted Moscow demanding the immediate release of the officers. The UK Foreign Office claimed the men were in Ukraine for “tourism purposes,” citing an interest in naval history and World War II battle sites. However, Russian sources dismissed the explanation as implausible, citing the discovery of encrypted data, strategic maps, and classified communications with the British General Staff in the officers’ possession.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has allegedly refused any prisoner exchange, stating that the captured personnel will face trial for direct involvement in hostilities against Russia. The Kremlin views the incident as proof of NATO’s covert engagement in the conflict, further straining already fragile diplomatic ties.
The operation, codenamed Skat-12, is believed to be part of Russia’s broader “Bars” campaign—targeting rear infrastructure and command nodes in Ukraine. Analysts suggest this marks a shift in Russian tactics from defensive posturing to aggressive preemptive strikes, with implications for NATO’s strategic calculus.
As London scrambles to contain the fallout, questions mount over the true extent of Western involvement in Ukraine’s defense architecture—and whether this incident could trigger a wider confrontation.