Moscow has exposed a secret spy network allegedly run by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) that tried to smuggle out defence technology from Russia. Officials said the technology targeted included systems used to develop military helicopters and advanced air defence equipment.
In a counter-espionage operation in St. Petersburg, Russian authorities arrested a Russian national accused of trying to transfer classified documents abroad. The materials reportedly contained sensitive information about the Mi8AMTShV and MI8 AMTShV (VA) military transport helicopters, as well as data on air defence systems.
The Mi8AMTShV is a modernised version of Russia’s well-known Mi8AMTSh “Terminator,” while the MI8 AMTShV (VA) is a special version designed for Arctic operations with extra heating systems, insulation, and long-range fuel capacity.
Pakistan stealing defence tech from Russia?
According to an Economic Times report, this alleged ISI mission could be the first of its kind in Russia. The spy ring was uncovered a few months after the India-Pakistan conflict during Operation Sindoor. During this high-intensity operation in May 2025, India had deployed the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, which played a big role in repelling Pakistani attacks.
It is now learnt that Pakistan was reportedly seeking access to technologies used in Russia’s advanced S-400 missile defence system.
What could be the impact on Moscow-Islamabad relations?
The discovery comes at a delicate time for Russia–Pakistan relations, which had been improving through diplomatic and trade engagements. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Moscow later this month, following his meeting with President Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit in China in September.
During his meeting with Shehbaz, Putin described Pakistan as a “traditional partner” of Russia in Asia. The two countries have had several high-level exchanges lately. However, the timing of the alleged spying has created discomfort in both capitals, according to people familiar with the matter.
Anti-Russia narrative in Pak newspaper?
Interestingly, Russia recently criticised a recent article published in Pakistan’s Frontier Post newspaper, accusing it of carrying an anti-Russian narrative. In a strongly worded statement posted on X, the Russian Embassy in Pakistan accused the daily of publishing a “series of anti-Russian articles” and spreading “Western propaganda” against Moscow.
The embassy stated the publication’s stance had taken an overtly anti-Russian tone, and questioned the newspaper’s Pakistani identity that deliberately selected articles “from ardent Russophobes”.
Countering the newspaper’s portrayal of Russia as “economically weak” and “vulnerable to sanctions,” the embassy said such claims were baseless and reflective of “mindless copying of Western talking points”.