James Bond will face off against a Russian villain for the first time in 20 years in his next film appearance in 2019.

In a case of art imitating life, the secret agent will encounter aggression from Moscow again at the same time as Russia is linked with crimes against the west.

The Kremlin has been accused of cybercrimes including interfering with the 2016 US election and Brexit Referendum, while police believe ‘Russia assassins’ were behind the Novichok poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, as well as the death of Dawn Sturgess, 44, who came into contact with the same batch of the nerve agent earlier this month.

James Bond, portrayed here by Daniel Craig, will face off against a Russian villain in next year's as yet untitled film

The last time Bond faced a foe from Moscow was in 1999's The World Is Not Enough when Robert Carlyle played former KGB agent turned terrorist Renard

Meanwhile President Donald Trump caused a stir this week after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki where he appeared to dismiss US intelligence agencies' accusations of Russian interference in the election only to back them the next day.

But 007 has not dealt with such a villain since 1999’s The World Is Not Enough when Pierce Brosnan’s version came to blows with former KGB agent turned terrorist Viktor ‘Renard’ Zokas, played by Robert Carlyle.

Previous films had never been shy of having Bond face off against Russians, particularly KGB agents, with the majority of the films produced during the Cold War.

Sir Roger Moore's Bond previously battled General Orlov (Steven Berkoff) in Octopussy, while Sean Connery’s foe Rosa Klebb is well-remembered in From Russia With Love for her shoe which contained a poisoned knife.

Britain’s finest even found love with a Russian counterpart when Sir Roger's Bond ended up with KGB agent Triple X, played by Barbara Bach, in The Spy Who Love Me.

Bond is no stranger to Russian villains, with From Russia With Love's Rosa Klebb, pictured, among the most famous. She is played by Lotte Lenya

Another Russian villain was General Orlov in Octopussy, pictured, played by Steven Berkoff

For the next film producers are after a 30-60-year old male ‘from Russia or the Balkans’ who is ‘charismatic, powerful, innovative, cold and vindictive’.

And another Russia love interest could be on the cards as the film is set to feature a female Russian who is ‘very striking with strong physical combat skills’ who is ‘intelligent, brave, witty, fierce and charming’.

The next film is the 25th in the Bond series and will be directed by Danny Boyle.

Daniel Craig returns as Bond while pop star Dua Lipa is rumoured to be recording the theme song.

‘Bond 25’ is set to be released next October.