Putin using 'intimidation tactics' against UK, says ex-MI6 chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to intimidate the United Kingdom through a campaign of sabotage, arson, and cyberattacks on British streets, according to the former head of MI6, Sir Richard Moore. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Moore stated that Putin is eager to broaden the conflict beyond Ukraine by targeting nations supporting Kyiv.

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Putin is trying to intimidate the UK with sabotage, arson and cyber attacks on British streets.

These actions, Moore explained, are designed to interfere with supporting countries in ways that deliberately avoid escalating into open warfare. He suggested that these proxy attacks necessitate a national discussion on the balance between security and defense resources. Moore, who led MI6 until last year, believes Putin is under pressure regarding the war in Ukraine, which motivates him to "expand the battlefield a bit."

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Putin was keen to expand the battlefield beyond the war in Ukraine by interfering against countries supporting Kyiv in ways that do not cross the threshold into open conflict.

Prosecutors determined that the attacks occurred in 2025 after a suspect was recruited online by a Russian-speaking Telegram user known as "El Money." This individual promised payment for the acts. A BBC Panorama investigation uncovered evidence suggesting "El Money" is Evgeny Lyukshin, a 23-year-old Russian diplomat and son of a senior official, who has reportedly been trained in information warfare. The BBC found that "El Money" offered Russian citizenship in exchange for further attacks and expressed admiration for Putin.

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We shouldn't be surprised at all if Russian involvement was confirmed.

While the British government and intelligence services have not officially attributed the incidents to the Kremlin, Moore commended the BBC's reporting and stated that confirmation of Russian involvement would not be surprising. He asserted that the UK should respond by strengthening its support for Ukraine, improving its cybersecurity defenses, and investing in intelligence capabilities to disrupt Russian operations. Moore also emphasized the criminal justice aspect, stating that individuals acting as proxies for hostile states must face severe penalties.

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There is a criminal justice element to tackling the threat, saying 'thugs' who were recruited online must go down for a very long stretch if found to have acted as proxies for hostile states.