An expert has warned that the UK is already in conflict with Russia – and has been “for years”.

It comes like a government The minister is preparing to alert NATO of a “wave of cyberattacks” Russia could be unleashed on Britain, potentially cutting power to millions of people.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden, is expected to warn the London conference next week that Vladimir PutinThe threats must “not be underestimated” in the Kremlin’s “hidden war”.

He reportedly told delegates: “Military force is one thing. But cyberwar can be destabilizing and debilitating. With a cyberattack, Russia can turn off the lights for millions of people. This can shut down power grids. This is the hidden war that Russia is waging Ukraine.’

Echoing his comments, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall today said NATO was engaged in a “hidden cyber war” with Russia, as well as open conflict in Ukraine.

However, Keir Giles, a Russia expert at international affairs think tank Chatham House, said Metro: “We are increasingly realizing that all these adjectives applied to war, whether “hybrid” war, “sub-threshold war”, or even “hidden war”, are practical – because they allow government authorities to maintain the fictitious idea that Russia is not fighting a war. war against us.

“Because if you just call it war, that means you have to do something.

Cyber ​​threats from foreign actors are not new. A few days ago it was reported that a “record number of incidents” had impacted on the UK’s “critical” drinking water supplies in 2024 – without having been officially disclosed, according to Future news recorded.

Giles stressed that recent events demonstrate a “subterranean conflict” that has lasted for more than a decade, of which most British citizens are unaware.

Between August 2023 and March 2024 alone, 46,000 flights in areas like the Baltic, Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Interference issues recorded – likely due to Russian interference.

In early 2023, MP Oliver Dowden revealed that the National Cyber ​​Security Center (NCSC) had published a “official threat notice” to those operating critical national infrastructureciting an “emerging risk posed by state-aligned adversaries” following the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Mr Dowden warned that Russia-aligned groups had a motive to “disrupt or destroy” UK infrastructure.

Each proves that McFadden’s speech could have been written years ago, Giles said. His upcoming remarks to NATO will describe a situation that is “not new.”

“It is important to remember that we are under constant threat online at the same time as President Putin is promising to launch missiles against our military installations,” he added.

Just a few days ago, a a fleet of unidentified drones flew over three air bases in the United Kingdom, including one intended to store nuclear warheads.

It is unclear whether the unmanned drones over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell, in Norfolk, were operated by a hostile actor.

Other threats to “cut the electricity” in the UK, which McFadden will address in his speech, are it’s not something new eithersaid Gilles.

“His speech focuses on the power grid, but that’s not the only piece of critical national infrastructure that appears to be at risk,” Giles explained.

Work and Pensions Secretary Kendall echoed McFadden’s comments about the “hidden war” regarding the National Grid on Sunday morning with Trevor Phillips.

She said: “Pat McFadden is right that there is not only an open military war with Russia as the aggressor, but there is also a hidden cyber war and that Russia will do anything that is in its power to destabilize not only Ukraine but also other countries.” NATO allies.

McFadden’s upcoming speech comes after weeks of tension after the United States authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, raising fears of a wider conflict.

Ukraine’s former military commander has claimed that World War III “has already started” in a sobering warning.

Valery Zaluzhny said that the direct involvement of Russiathe allies of – North Korea, Iran and China – means the conflict is now on a global scale.

“I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that World War III has started,” Zaluzhny said, today Ukraine’s envoy in Great Britain.

“Because in 2024, Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. North Korean soldiers stand in front of Ukraine. Let’s be honest.

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