The UK has charged three men and two women with spying for Russia, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on Thursday.

The five individuals, aged between 29 and 45, are all Bulgarian nationals. 

They will be charged with "conspiring to collect information intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state," according to a CPS statement.

Their actions are believed to have been conducted between August 30, 2020 and February 8, 2023.

Three of the defendants were previously charged in February with possessing false identity documents with "improper intention."

"Criminal proceedings against the five individuals are active and they each have the right to a fair trial," the CPS said.

The five defendants are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 26.