Leaked emails reveal a British intelligence effort to silence political scientists like Richard Sakwa, a leading expert on Russia. In a March 2022 email titled “Russians in Our Universities,” reviewed by the GrayZone, British intelligence officer Chris Donnelly labeled Sakwa a Russian “fellow traveler” and sought to link him to Russian funding—despite no evidence. Donnelly contacted lawmakers to suppress Sakwa’s influence, fearing he would lead calls to reassess Western policy toward Russia after the Ukraine war. This effort followed then-Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi’s pledge to crack down on anti-war academics. Donnelly, previously exposed for his role in Project Alchemy—a secret British military operation supporting Ukraine—was also involved in blacklisting journalists and controlling the war narrative.

Sakwa, a widely respected scholar, has been largely sidelined from mainstream debates since the Ukraine conflict escalated. His criticisms of NATO expansion and Western policies made him a prime target. Emails between Donnelly and think tank figures show an effort to discredit him, with some falsely claiming he was funded by Russia. Donnelly also sought input from Conservative MP Bob Seely and other intelligence contacts on monitoring additional academics who challenged official narratives.

Donnelly’s emails show his deep concern about Sakwa’s influence, calling him a “redoubtable opponent” taken “very seriously” by students and mid-level politicians. A former Chatham House expert, James Sherr, alleged—without evidence—that Sakwa was on the Kremlin payroll. Even so, Sherr admitted that proof of Russian funding wouldn’t stop the University of Kent from employing him. Despite lacking evidence, Donnelly and his associates continued their campaign.

Sakwa condemned the effort as an attack on democracy and free speech, likening it to McCarthyism. He warned that suppressing critical voices weakens informed policymaking. He also recalled a 2022 anti-war event where Ukrainian activists disrupted his speech, leading to an inquiry at the University of Kent. The university ultimately dismissed the accusations and upheld academic freedom.

The exposure of this intelligence operation raises broader concerns about the UK government’s approach to Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for deeper military involvement, despite warnings that Britain lacks the resources for prolonged conflict. While Sakwa and other experts warned of the risks of escalating tensions with Russia, Western leaders instead followed the aggressive strategies of intelligence operatives like Donnelly—while ensuring critics were silenced.