Putin’s Most Notorious Spy Anna Chapman Active Again? What We Know About Her New Mission

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 12:28 IST

Anna Chapman rose to fame in 2010 after the US arrested her for being in a Russian sleeper cell and deported her. She’s been out of the public eye, now living in Russia

In 2024, Anna Chapman published a book titled 'Bondianna: To Russia With Love.' (News18 Hindi)

Amid Russia’s ongoing war challenges, the country’s top operatives are staying active. Reports now suggest that one of President Putin’s most formidable aides has been reactivated and assigned a new mission, signaling continued strategic moves by Moscow.

This operative is none other than the infamous spy, Anna Chapman, whose return has come as a surprise. According to reports, Chapman was previously apprehended by the United States but was later released.

Who Is Anna Chapman?

According to The Sun, Anna Chapman, the 43-year-old former UK citizen, has adopted the alias ‘Anna Romanova’. She gained notoriety in 2010 when the FBI in New York arrested her for being part of a Russian sleeper cell. She was later sent back to Russia in a high-profile exchange that brought double agent Sergei Skripal to the UK. Years afterward, Skripal survived a poisoning in Salisbury, an attack widely attributed to Russian operatives.

Reports indicate that Chapman has been out of the public eye for a considerable time and is currently residing in Russia.

The Sun reported that Chapman first gained attention in London, where her charm allowed her to move easily among influential businesspeople, politicians, and oligarchs. It was there that a London-based Russian agent, impressed by her networking abilities, recruited her. She had become a British citizen through her marriage to Alex Chapman, though the relationship ended badly. According to reports, Alex Chapman, now deceased, once attempted to kill her with a power drill.

Here’s What She Wrote In Her Memoir

In 2024, Anna Chapman published a book titled ‘Bondianna: To Russia With Love.’ The book details her journey, including aspects of her espionage missions and accounts of her arrest. In it, Chapman describes her experiences as a Russian intelligence agent and shares insights into Russia’s diplomatic relations with Western countries.

In the book, Chapman presents herself as a real-life female James Bond, asserting that her looks and confidence opened doors to the highest levels of power.

Chapman’s memoir recounts a life of luxury, including extravagant trips, glamorous parties, and encounters with the wealthy and influential. One passage describes how she secured a role at a London hedge fund after winning a game of strip poker.

However, the book offers no details on any British secrets she may have passed to Moscow prior to her arrest, nor does it mention the House of Lords member or the British tycoon she is said to have socialized with during her time in the UK.

Russian Spy Gets A New Mission

Recently, Chapman has resurfaced, having been assigned a new mission by Russia. She has been appointed as the head of the newly established Museum of Russian Intelligence. This institution, registered near Moscow’s Gorky Park within the press office of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), aims to showcase the history and achievements of Russian espionage, particularly highlighting the country’s intelligence operations against the West.

Gone For A Decade, Now Back With A Shocking Return

Chapman had been missing from public view for 10 years but became active on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram in 2020.

According to The Sun, since her return to Russia, Chapman has transformed her image, working as a businesswoman, television host, and social media figure. She is a vocal supporter of Vladimir Putin and has recently become a mother to a baby boy.

Chapman is now back in the spotlight with a role that once again links her to Russia’s secretive intelligence sphere. The SVR, the agency she is associated with, is led by Sergey Naryshkin, a close ally of the Russian president.

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