Experts are cautioning that Britain might be engaged in a conflict with Russia due to the increasing number of hostile acts perpetrated by Kremlin and intelligence officials against the UK. These acts include poison murders on UK soil, heightened espionage activities, overt bombings, cyber-attacks, spy operations, and submarine breaches, prompting a state of alert.
Over the years, at the directive of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin intelligence operatives have been carrying out aggressive “grey zone” assaults on the UK. Former MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller supported assertions by UK Russia expert and former White House adviser Fiona Hill that Moscow is actively waging war against the West. Manningham-Buller suggested that the UK may already be in a form of conflict with Russia, citing the extensive hostility, cyber-attacks, physical assaults, and intelligence operations.
Reports from Poland, Estonia, and other Baltic states have revealed incursions by Russian aircraft, with these actions growing bolder and prompting calls to shoot down threatening Kremlin aircraft. Aggressive activities just below the threshold of war have strained the patience of the UK and NATO allies, leading to heightened military readiness and a surge in preparations for potential Russian offensives.
Earlier this year, five individuals were convicted for their involvement in a Russian-plotted arson attack on a London warehouse, causing significant damage. The leader, Dylan Earl, collaborated with the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group to set fire to the warehouse and conducted surveillance for further attacks in Mayfair. The case highlights the use of proxies by organizations linked to the Russian state to carry out criminal activities in the UK.
The UK has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, providing military training, arms, and shelter for refugees. This support has made the UK a prime target for the Kremlin, which seeks to halt Western assistance to Ukraine by targeting the UK, the main partner in defending against the invasion.
Russian special forces have been implicated in deadly incidents on British soil, such as the Salisbury poisoning in 2018, which left individuals fighting for their lives and resulted in fatalities. Identified Russian operatives involved in the poisoning have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Suspected Russian cyber plotters are believed to have orchestrated an attack on Heathrow and other major European airports, causing disruptions and financial losses. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is actively countering such attacks, which pose a threat to national security and the economy.
Frequent intercepts of Russian long-range bomber/spy jets by RAF Typhoons near UK airspace have tested response times and raised alert levels. These incidents, along with submarine incursions, aim to create a sense of constant threat from Russia and potentially disrupt vital communication infrastructure between the UK, Europe, and the US.