Putin’s ‘Black Widow’ returns! Who is Anna Chapman and why is the spy back in Russian intelligence?

Anna Chapman, the 43-year-old red-haired former British citizen who gained international infamy in 2010 after being arrested by the FBI as part of a Russian sleeper cell, is reportedly back in the public eye.

According to British media reports, she has been assigned a new role by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) — as the head of the newly established Museum of Russian Intelligence in Moscow.

The museum, located near Moscow’s Gorky Park, aims to highlight the “achievements” and history of Russian espionage, particularly focusing on intelligence operations against the West. It falls under the purview of the SVR, headed by Sergey Naryshkin, one of President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies.

From scandal to symbolism

Chapman first became known in London for her charm and social connections before being recruited by Russian intelligence operatives. Her story became international news when she and nine other alleged spies were arrested in the United States in 2010. They were later deported to Russia in a high-profile spy swap that also saw double agent Sergei Skripal move to Britain.

Following her deportation, Chapman transformed her image — working as a businesswoman, television host, and social media figure. She became a vocal supporter of Putin and embraced her reputation as Russia’s “femme fatale” spy.

Also read: Trump to meet Putin in Hungary after ‘productive’ call on Ukraine

Memoir and media reinvention

In 2024, Chapman published her memoir “Bondianna: To Russia With Love”, in which she described herself as a real-life female 007. The book detailed her experiences as an intelligence operative, her arrest, and her insights into Russia’s relations with Western powers.

In one passage, Chapman wrote, “I knew the effect I had on men. Nature had generously endowed me with the necessary attributes… and it worked like magic.”

The memoir also recounted her time in London, where she mingled with influential business figures and politicians, often using her charisma to access elite social circles.

Reemergence and new assignment

After nearly a decade away from the spotlight, Chapman reappeared on social media around 2020, sharing glimpses of her personal life. Reports now suggest she has been “reactivated” by Russian authorities to oversee the new museum, which will serve both as a public relations project and a tribute to Russia’s long-standing intelligence legacy.

The appointment signals Moscow’s continuing effort to celebrate and institutionalise its intelligence history amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with the West. Chapman, now a mother and media personality, appears once again at the intersection of power, propaganda, and espionage — the same forces that made her one of the world’s most recognisable spies.