British Spy Chief: Russia Is Attacking Europe 'Daily'

Russia is losing ground in Ukraine but widening its fight in Europe in less visible ways, the head of Britain's intelligence, cyber and security agency is set to warn. In prepared remarks ahead of a speech Wednesday in London, GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler says Moscow is ramping up "daily hybrid activity" against the UK and Europe, from cyberattacks and sabotage to assassination attempts and disinformation, all aimed at undermining economies, institutions, and NATO unity, per the New York Times.

European officials have tied Russia to explosives on a Polish rail line, a hacked Norwegian dam, navigation jamming, and plots to put incendiary devices on planes, while Lithuania says it recently arrested nine people who allegedly plotted murder and sabotage on orders from Russia's GRU military intelligence service. In December, the chief of Britain's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, warned Russia was testing Europe "with tactics that are just below the threshold of war," per the Times.

Keast-Butler argues that while Putin is "going backwards on the battlefield," his tactics are becoming more brazen off it. She also draws attention to China's sophisticated cyberattacks and the country's tightening alignment with Russia, calling for "making cybersecurity 10 times more urgent," per the BBC. Her warning on a "new era of radical uncertainty" comes as Britain and Poland sign a sweeping new defense and security pact, which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says will help in confronting "modern security threats that may be less visible but no less dangerous."