Ex-MI5 chief: UK already declared soft war on Russia
The former head of MI5 says the extent of UK involvement in Kiev’s military and political affairs during the Russia-Ukraine conflict indicates that it may have already entered a soft war with Russia.
Speaking on Monday in an interview with Lord Speaker John McFall, Elizabeth Lydia Manningham-Buller said the nature of Britain’s relationship with Russia has changed significantly since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, prompting Moscow to respond in kind to British provocations.
“I think … we are already at war with Russia. It is a different sort of war, but the hostility … [and] the intelligence work is extensive,” she said.
The former MI5 director cited what she described as a series of Russia's alleged activities in the UK, including cyber-attacks, intelligence collection, and sabotage.
She referenced a 2024 arson attack on a warehouse in east London that stored supplies destined for Ukraine, for which five men were convicted.
Six Bulgarians living in the UK were also apprehended for allegedly running an intelligence operation for Russia by conducting surveillance across Europe.
She also pointed to intensified cyber warfare between the two countries, claiming that British businesses have faced repeated attacks, many suspected to originate in Russia.
Eastern European NATO allies, including Poland, have also reported incidents, such as unarmed Russian drones crossing into their airspace last month.
Manningham-Buller noted that Britain’s involvement in Kiev’s political and military affairs has effectively drawn London into what Russia considers a proxy war.
Russia says the measures by UK, including the provision of arms, intelligence coordination, and support for political factions in Ukraine, have left it with little choice but to defend its security and national interests.
Furthermore, Manningham-Buller criticized US President Donald Trump for his decision to defund USAID, and other Washington-funded economic and political initiatives, especially in African and Asian countries.
She emphasized that the West used these initiatives, including USAID, as instruments for exerting soft Western power on developing countries and claimed that the absence of Washington and London would allow their rivals to fill the gap.
“If we withdraw from the world, they can move in because they have a strong economic base, so I think soft power … whether it is the BBC World Service, whether it is aid, whether it is demining, all contribute importantly to our influence in the world.”
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