The head of Britain's MI6 intelligence service issued a stark warning about Russia's escalating campaign of sabotage across Europe, calling it "staggeringly reckless" as Moscow attempts to intimidate Ukraine's Western allies.
Speaking in Paris on Friday, MI6 chief Richard Moore revealed that British intelligence has uncovered evidence of Russian sabotage operations in Europe, occurring alongside nuclear threats intended to spread fear about supporting Ukraine.
Western security officials have linked Russian intelligence to several planned attacks, including an alleged plot to burn Ukrainian-owned businesses in London and incidents involving incendiary devices on cargo planes. In separate events last July, suspicious fires broke out at a courier hub in Germany and a warehouse in England.
Moore warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeds in reducing Ukraine to a "vassal state," the consequences would extend far beyond Ukraine's borders, threatening British, French, European, and American security interests. He cautioned that a Russian victory would embolden other adversarial nations, including China, North Korea, and Iran.
The MI6 chief's remarks came as Putin has lowered Russia's threshold for nuclear weapons use and intensified attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. These actions followed Ukraine's first deployment of U.S.-supplied ATACM missiles against Russian targets.
Speaking alongside Nicolas Lerner, head of France's DGSE intelligence agency, Moore emphasized the necessity of maintaining support for Ukraine despite mounting costs. "The cost of supporting Ukraine is well-known, but the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher," Moore stated.
The timing of Moore's speech appears calculated to address concerns about wavering European support and potential shifts in U.S. policy, particularly given former President Donald Trump's previous criticisms of Ukraine aid. Moore noted his previous successful cooperation with the Trump administration on security matters, expressing readiness to continue such collaboration.
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