Russia posing threat to UK's critical infrastructure, says head of UK intelligence agency
Anne Keast-Butler, Director of the UK intelligence service GCHQ, has said Russia is deliberately threatening critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust in the United Kingdom.
Source: European Pravda, citing the BBC
Details: In her first public speech, Keast-Butler outlined the threats facing the UK and the measures she believes are needed to counter them.
In excerpts from the speech, she singles out Russia as a state "targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust".
Russia has been accused of a number of espionage plots on British territory and, more recently, of waging an undeclared hybrid war against the UK and other NATO countries. The Kremlin denies the allegations.
Keast-Butler said GCHQ is working tirelessly to repel cyberattacks and counter what she described as "reckless sabotage and assassination attempts".
"In the face of such aggression and chaos, GCHQ is working tirelessly with intelligence and Defence partners to degrade and reduce the Russian threat," she added.
GCHQ – short for Government Communications Headquarters – is the largest of the UK's three intelligence agencies, alongside MI5 and MI6.
Based in Cheltenham and housed in a massive circular building known as The Doughnut, GCHQ focuses on cybersecurity and air surveillance.
Due to its focus on advanced technologies, the agency receives a significant share of the UK's intelligence budget.
Background:
- On Tuesday 26 May, the United Kingdom imposed new sanctions on Russia targeting cryptocurrency networks used to circumvent UK sanctions.
- On 20 May, the UK government also introduced an exemption to sanctions against Russia allowing the import of diesel and aviation fuel produced from Russian crude oil in third countries.
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