Minister: Russian spies are 'behind sustained effort to interfere in our democracy'

RUSSIA'S ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office after Moscow's security service hacked emails of hundreds of top politicians, civil servants and journalists.

- Mark Reynolds

Foreign Office minister Leo Docherty told the Commons a cyber group "almost certainly" a subordinate of an FSB cyber unit, had "selectively leaked and amplified information" since 2015.

Mr Docherty said the group known as Star Blizzard or Cold River stole information from a significant number of parliamentarians from multiple parties by targeting email accounts.

It is understood there are hundreds of famous victims of attempted hacks by Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin's agents. Many had their personal email accounts targeted, not just their official accounts.