Britain may already be at war with Russia, according to former MI5 chief Eliza Manningham-Buller, due to the scale of cyber-attacks, sabotage, and other hostile activity orchestrated by Moscow.
Speaking on a podcast with Lord Speaker John McFall, Manningham-Buller said the conflict is “a different sort of war,” but the intensity of cyber-attacks, physical sabotage, and intelligence operations is extensive. She agreed with Russia expert Fiona Hill, who previously warned that Moscow is effectively at war with the West.
Recent cases underline the threat. Six Bulgarians were jailed in the UK this year for participating in a spy ring conducting hostile surveillance across Europe. Meanwhile, five men were convicted of arson linked to a Moscow-ordered attack on a warehouse supplying Ukraine.
Pat McFadden, former Cabinet Office minister, said Russia has escalated cyber-attacks on UK businesses, though attribution often takes time. NATO allies in eastern Europe, including Poland, have also faced incursions from unarmed Russian drones.
Manningham-Buller recalled her 2005 meeting with Vladimir Putin, noting his shift from appearing “pleasant” to orchestrating covert attacks such as the 2006 poisoning of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London.
She also criticized UK and US aid cuts, warning they leave opportunities for China to expand influence in poorer countries. Manningham-Buller emphasized that soft power, from aid to the BBC World Service, remains crucial for international influence.
