All the ways Russia is waging ‘grey war’ on the UK – from drones to local agents

All the ways Russia is waging ‘grey war’ on the UK – from drones to local agents



Posted by theipaper

6 comments

  1. The UK is facing a new era that’s “forcing the biggest shift” in the intelligence agency’s mission since 9/11, the head of MI5 said in October.

    “In the last year, we and the police have disrupted a steady stream of surveillance plots with hostile intent – aimed at individuals Russian leaders perceive as their enemies,” director general of MI5, Ken McCallum said.

    “And we’re seeing Russia-based figures continuing to use online platforms in wider attempts – largely unsuccessful – to sow the seeds of violence, chaos and division here in the UK.”

    One of the most pressing threats is covert tactics used by Russia to intimidate, cause chaos and death across the country without triggering a full-blown war across Europe. In other words, a grey war, a conflict in between peace and armed warfare.

    But hybrid warfare – such as cyber attacks, espionage, disinformation – is not a new tactic used by the Kremlin.

    This week, the inquiry into the 2018 Salisbury poisonings found that Vladimir Putin had authorised the operation to use the deadly nerve agent Novichok to assassinate former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal.

    Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and police officer, Nick Bailey, all fell ill following the poisoning. [Dawn Sturgess died three months later in June, after accidentally spraying herself with perfume loaded with the poison](https://inews.co.uk/news/five-novichok-inquiry-findings-3322667?ico=in-line_link).

    Since the war in Ukraine has raged, Russia’s hostile actions have taken a more undercover approach. Drones have been spotted across multiples countries, sabotage attacks on logistical hubs have occurred, and mysterious ships have been accused of [transporting agents](https://inews.co.uk/news/suspected-russian-spies-entered-uk-using-cargo-ships-4049755?srsltid=AfmBOoqpiIXsinK2DRijAfSUuiz1p_CxHwpHDKJNO03c93ehQ3o8sJve&ico=in-line_link) or carrying out surveillance, as revealed by *The i Paper*.

    While no foreign state has been identified, Russia has been accused of being behind the hybrid attacks.

    Research by The International Institute for Strategic Studies published in the summer revealed there had been 11 instances of hybrid warfare attacks in Europe in the first half of 2025.

  2. Remember that theres Reform voters out there who think Russia are the good guys in this.

  3. it’s actually the other way around: The UK stopped all peace efforts due to how well the weapon manufacturers have been earning. check out Boris’s actions and the companies he has shares in.

    we have been sending lots of military personnel and mercenaries. some of the higher ranking officials have been captured and paraded by the Russians.

    finally, like this, we create lots of baseless news trying to shift the blame over our failing proxy war.

  5. The UK has literally sent billions of pounds in military aid to Russia’s opposition. It’s not like the UK is neutral in all of this.

  6. Theoretically could Russia be cut off from internet lines? Wpuld that even help reduce their expansive attacks?

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