A Russian spymaster has managed to orchestrate migrant chaos by using a 15,000-strong private army to control asylum flows into Europe.

Jan Marsalek - who is now a fugitive - had planned to establish an army of mercenaries to run the border in a popular migration route via Libya.

Directing the flow of migrants is believed to be a central objective of the Kremlin as the issue of migration takes the main stage during national European elections.

Now, the chief of the German company Wirecard purchased a company with the intention to build up a private military army and deploy Russian soldiers to Libya, The Telegraph has reported.

The fugitive fled to Austria and has become one of Interpol's most wanted

Such details have come to light after a group of spies in the UK - who were coordinated by Marsalek - were found guilty at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Its ringmaster Orlin Roussev, 47, led a team of Bulgarians who now face prison time after being caught while planning kidnapping and surveillance campaigns in one of London’s largest espionage operations.

Since 2020, Marsalek has been fleeing authorities after his company Wirecard fell to pieces - with a €1.9billion loss in its finances.

After the collapse, the fugitive escaped Austria to Russia and has managed to get onto Interpol’s most wanted list for his previous involvement in alleged fraud.

Several countries across the continent are believed to be investigating Marsalek and the Met has refused to deny that any charges will be brought against the spy in the future.

The Telegraph has added that Marsalek was employed by Moscow during the same time that he was a boss at Wirecard, hoping to manipulate migration from Africa.

Back in 2017, Austrian state officials had committed €120,000 of financial support for the plan to help “solve the migration crisis”.

The project was also being overseen by someone working for the Russian intelligence services (GRU).

Marsalek was employed by Moscow during the same time that he was a boss at Wirecard, hoping to manipulate migration from Africa

However, when flags were raised in Germany and Austria, officials brushed off the warnings, according to sources speaking to The Telegraph.

Simultaneously, the fugitive bought ownership of a RSB Group - a private Russian army which has previously backed Libyan warlord Gen Khalifa Haftar - and have used them to exacerbate violence across Africa and supporting the work of people smugglers.

The reports have come at a turning point in the Ukraine war as Donald Trump increasingly places pressure on both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin to settle on a peace agreement.

In the past, key European politicians have asserted that the continent would fall victim to another tidal wave of migrants if Ukraine surrenders to Russia.