Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – In a startling revelation, a Russian spy ring led by fugitive ex-Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek and Bulgarian national Orlin Roussev was clandestinely involved in the 2021 evacuation of Kabul, Afghanistan. Operating from a guesthouse in Great Yarmouth, UK, the group was covertly hired by U.S. defense contractor Constellis (formerly Blackwater) to assist in the evacuation efforts during the chaotic NATO withdrawal. The operation facilitated the evacuation of approximately 1,200 individuals, including U.S. citizens and Afghans, by providing aircraft for the mission. Roussev claimed that one of their missions concluded just prior to a deadly ISIS bombing at Kabul airport.
Beyond the evacuation, court proceedings in London have unveiled the group’s involvement in global criminal activities, including money laundering and trafficking diamonds in exchange for weapons in Africa. Marsalek, wanted by Germany for a €1.6 billion fraud tied to the collapse of Wirecard, boasted about his ability to procure anything, even joking about acquiring nuclear weapons.
The court also reviewed encrypted Telegram messages between Marsalek and Roussev, indicating their involvement in multiple covert and illicit ventures, including arms and diamond trades in Africa, plans to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink with Chinese partners, and efforts to support Russia’s military using drone technology.
This case underscores the complex interplay between private military contractors, international espionage, and criminal enterprises, highlighting the challenges in distinguishing between covert operations and illicit activities.
