Full Breakdown
Former National Security Adviser Urges Britain to Bolster Defences Against Russian Hybrid Attacks
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Call for Greater Protection of Infrastructure
Lord Ricketts, a former national security adviser who also headed the Foreign Office, told BBC Radio 4’s *Today* programme that the UK government must increase spending on the defence budget and improve the resilience of energy, transport and air-traffic-control systems. He warned that “hybrid attacks” are becoming “more reckless, more dangerous” and could result in civilian deaths.
Context of Rising Hybrid Threats
Earlier in the week, MI5 chief Sir Kevin McCallum warned in his annual speech that threats from foreign states—including Russia and Iran—had quadrupled over the past decade. Hybrid attacks combine non-military methods such as hacking, sabotage and misinformation to destabilise target nations. Moscow is widely suspected of orchestrating many such operations in Europe since the start of the war in Ukraine, though it denies involvement.
Official Statements
Lord Ricketts argued that the United Kingdom should focus on “the coalition of the willing” rather than acting as an intermediary between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. The former adviser also linked Russia’s hybrid strategy to broader attempts by President Vladimir Putin to undermine morale in Ukraine and other European countries.
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Verbatim Quote
- “I'm not saying there's going to be industrial war with tanks rolling across the north German plain.” — Lord Ricketts
These remarks underscore growing concern among senior UK officials that Russia’s hybrid tactics could soon threaten critical national infrastructure and public safety.