A Russian TV channel made a huge gaffe after airing an MI6 plea for citizens in the country to turn their back on Vladimir Putin and start spying for Britain.
Channel 1 transmitted a video message from the boss of the Secret Intelligence Service during an hour long broadcast hosted by ex-Russian spy Maria Butina.
The former agent was hosting an hour long profile of MI6 chief Richard Moore when the clip was aired to Russian citizens.
It is unclear if the TV station's executives were aware they were openly playing a recruitment message out on national television before the broadcast was made.
Richard Moore first made his appeal in Prague in July
PA
Moore's message, which was originally made in Prague in July, urged Russians who were appalled by Putin's invasion of Ukraine to spy for MI6.
He claimed a number of Russian nationals had already provided information and urged others to do so.
"Our door is always open," he said.
Until now his message has scarcely been reported on Russian television.
The MI6 chief told Russians that their 'door is always open'
PA
Russian experts say that the Kremlin had been eager to avoid its citizens from hearing the appeal for the intelligence service.
Channel 1 is one of Russia's most popular TV stations, meaning that Moore's appeal is likely to have now been heard by millions.
"Butina’s show is watched by people in politics — exactly the sort of people MI6 would want to target," Professor Mark Galeotti told the Sun.
"The plug was priceless.
"In Russia, you simply do not broadcast an invitation to work for a hostile intelligence agency."
Butina's role as a Russian spy first became public in 2018 when she was charged by the US justice department with being a "covert Russian agent".
She pleaded guilty to being directed by a Russian government official to "establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over American politics".
The foreign agent was jailed before being deported to Moscow in October 2019.
She took up her role as a TV presenter in 2021.
