Mapping Russian threat actors' business networks

A new research project will examine Russia’s use of corporate, financial, and legal structures to support covert activity.

This is an increasingly important aspect of the hybrid threats facing the UK, Europe, and partner states. Yet the specific business networks and intermediaries linked to individuals affiliated with Russian threat actors remain insufficiently mapped, limiting the ability of policymakers and analysts to understand how these networks operate, where they are concentrated, what risks they pose, and how they may be countered.

The project, led by Olivia Allison of Secta research, will create a database of Russian and global businesses associated with Russian threat actors, drawing on information from both before and after Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine.

The research aims to answer three core questions: how are these networks structured, and what is the jurisdicational distribution, what patterns are there linking the various actors, and who are the enablers and intermediaries.

The project will generate information that can support private‑sector decision‑makers—such as banks and companies—in compliance and due‑diligence processes, as well as policymakers seeking to identify gaps in investment screening and sanctions regimes.

For more information visit the project web page here.