Ex-MI5 Chief Warns UK May Already Be ‘At War’ with Russia

Ex-MI5 Chief Warns UK May Already Be ‘At War’ with Russia

 

Britain is potentially already engaged in a state of war with Russia, according to the former head of MI5, Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, who cited the extensive cyber-attacks, sabotage, and intelligence operations orchestrated by Moscow.

Lady Manningham-Buller, who led the domestic intelligence agency from 2002 to 2007, echoed the assessment of Russia expert Fiona Hill, agreeing that the nature of the hostility post-Ukraine invasion suggests the UK is facing a “different sort of war.”

 

A Shift in Hostility

 

Speaking on a recent podcast, the former spy chief highlighted the severity of Moscow’s actions:

• “Extensive” Hostility: She specifically pointed to the depth of Russian hostility encompassing “the cyber-attacks, the physical attacks, the intelligence work.”
• Recent Incidents: Her comments come after several high-profile incidents, including the sentencing of six Bulgarians in the UK for their roles in a European spy ring and the conviction of five men for an arson attack in London on a warehouse containing aid bound for Ukraine.
• Cyber Threat: The UK government previously confirmed that Russia has escalated its cyber-attacks against British businesses, with many incidents strongly suspected of having Russian origins.

 

Putin’s History and Foreign Policy

 

Lady Manningham-Buller also reflected on her 2005 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom she found to be “quite an unpleasant man,” noting she “didn’t anticipate that within a year he’d be ordering the murder on London streets of [Alexander] Litvinenko.” A public inquiry later concluded the 2006 poisoning of the former FSB spy with polonium was likely ordered by Putin.

In a critique of current government policy, the former MI5 head also slammed the significant cuts to UK and US aid spending. She argued that withdrawing soft power—such as aid, the BBC World Service, and medical research funding—creates a “space for your friendly Chinese diplomat” to move in and exploit opportunities in poorer countries.

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