Lord Ricketts warns UK must defend against Russian hybrid attacks

Lord Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser, has warned that the British government must increase spending and improve the resilience of critical infrastructure to defend against Russian ‘hybrid attacks’. These non-military methods, which include cyber-attacks, sabotage, and misinformation, are described as becoming ‘more reckless, more dangerous’ with the potential for loss of life.

The warnings follow statements from MI5 chief Sir Ken McCallum, who noted that threats from hostile states like Russia and Iran have quadrupled over the last decade. McCallum identified Russia as the ‘number one aggressor’, noting that MI5 is currently devoting more resources to combating such threats than during the Cold War.

Lord Ricketts emphasized the need for ministers to inform the public about these emerging threats, stating that Vladimir Putin is attempting to undermine morale not only in Ukraine but across European countries. These security concerns coincide with shifting geopolitical dynamics, including recent decisions by US President Donald Trump to waive certain sanctions on Russia.