Bulgarian prosecutors announced that they had arrested six people, including high-ranking members of the military and intelligence communities, for spying for Russia.

The investigation into the spy ring was considered of “special significance” for the national security of not only Bulgaria, but the EU, NATO, and the United States, general prosecutor Ivan Geshev said in a press briefing.

“We do not hate any foreign country, but we need to and must defend Bulgaria… Bulgarian citizens can and should be proud of their security services,” Geshev added.

Prosecutors played wiretaps for the press in which the alleged leader of the spy ring discusses operations and payments with his agents. They also showed footage of one suspect allegedly photographing classified material on his computer screen.