It has a satellite-linked operations room, a warehouse full of life-saving equipment, and climbing walls for training purposes. But the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Centre in Niš, a pleasant city in south Serbia that claims to be the birthplace of Constantine the Great, feels more like David Brent’s office than the Bat Cave.

"I almost don’t want to answer those questions any more," half groans and half laughs Victor Gulevich, a stocky Russian emergency ministry official and co-director of the centre, when asked where he keeps his cloak and dagger. "Look around. Honestly, tell me if you find any spy kit."

Mr Gulevich – and the Russian and Serbian governments – say this modest industrial unit is…

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