‘Spying more sophisticated than ever’ after claim Russia stole Oxford vaccine

Last year, UK security services had accused Russian spies of trying to steal details of coronavirus vaccine research being carried out by the UK, US and Canada.

A vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccination. Picture: PA

A UK government minister has refused to confirm whether Russian spies “stole” the British-made Covid-19 vaccine to create its own jab.

UK Home Office minister Damian Hinds would not be drawn on allegations that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine’s design was used to create Russia’s Sputnik V jab, instead saying more generally that “state activity” was involved in “industrial espionage”.