Britain Could Already Be at War with Russia, Former MI5 Chief Warns

Published: 29 September ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Britain may already be engaged in a covert conflict with Russia due to the increasing scale and sophistication of cyber-attacks, sabotage operations, and other hostile activities originating from Moscow, according to former MI5 director Eliza Manningham-Buller. Speaking on a podcast hosted by the House of Lords speaker, John McFall, Lady Manningham-Buller highlighted that Russia’s aggressive actions against the United Kingdom extend far beyond conventional espionage, reflecting what she described as a new and unconventional form of warfare.

Manningham-Buller, who led MI5 between 2002 and 2007, echoed earlier assessments by Russian affairs expert Fiona Hill, who previously stated that Moscow was effectively at war with Western nations. She emphasised that this conflict is not traditional in the sense of open military confrontation, but that the level of hostility—including cyber intrusions, intelligence-gathering, and targeted attacks—is intense and ongoing. According to Manningham-Buller, the events following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, combined with repeated evidence of covert operations on UK soil, indicate that Britain is confronting a sustained and sophisticated campaign orchestrated by Moscow.

“Since the invasion of Ukraine, and given the intelligence I have read about Russian activities in this country—sabotage, espionage, and attacks on individuals—it is reasonable to consider that we are already in a state of war,” Manningham-Buller remarked. She cited examples from recent years where Russian-linked operations were uncovered in the UK and across Europe, highlighting the significant impact on both national security and public safety.

This year, six Bulgarian nationals residing in the UK were sentenced for their involvement in a spy ring conducting hostile surveillance operations across Europe, while five men were convicted in connection with an arson attack targeting a warehouse containing supplies intended for Ukraine—an operation reportedly ordered by Moscow. The cases underscore the broad reach of Russian operations and the ways in which foreign intelligence efforts are intertwined with acts of sabotage and criminal activity.

Former Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has also highlighted the intensification of Russian cyber-attacks against the UK in recent years. British businesses have faced repeated intrusions, often with significant financial and operational consequences. While pinpointing the exact origin of these attacks can be challenging, intelligence agencies believe that many of the incidents can be traced back to Russia, illustrating the persistent threat posed to national infrastructure and private-sector operations.

The UK is not alone in grappling with Russian hostilities. Several NATO allies in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, have reported incursions by unarmed Russian drones, with 19 drones entering Polish airspace this month alone. These incidents reflect a broader pattern of Russian activity in Europe, signalling an escalation in both surveillance and provocative actions. Such developments contribute to the perception that Western nations, including the UK, are under continual, low-level attack from Russian intelligence and military operations.

During her tenure as MI5 director, Manningham-Buller recalled initial hopes that Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, might evolve into a partner for the West rather than reverting to Cold War-era hostilities. She met Putin in London in 2005 following a G8 summit in Scotland, noting at the time his attempts to present a diplomatic façade to Western leaders. “I wouldn’t quite describe him as charming,” she reflected, “and I certainly did not anticipate that within a year, he would be implicated in ordering the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko on London streets. Still, at the time, I thought he was quite an unpleasant man.”

Litvinenko, a former Russian FSB officer, fell gravely ill and eventually died in 2006 after being poisoned with radioactive polonium in London. A public inquiry later concluded that two Russian agents were responsible for his death, acting on what was believed to be the orders of Putin himself. The incident remains a stark reminder of Russia’s willingness to employ lethal measures abroad to achieve political objectives, reinforcing Manningham-Buller’s warning about the ongoing nature of Russian hostility.

Beyond the security landscape, Manningham-Buller also criticised the United Kingdom and United States for recent reductions in foreign aid, arguing that such cutbacks provide strategic opportunities for other global powers, particularly China. She noted the contrast in the quality and scale of humanitarian projects, citing her experiences with HIV treatment programmes funded by the United States in Africa during her tenure at the Wellcome Trust. “You would enter basic hospitals where patients were on pallets on the ground, and yet the Bush administration-funded AIDS wings were on an entirely different scale. By scaling back, we inadvertently leave space for Chinese influence to expand,” she said.

Manningham-Buller emphasised that soft power—encompassing initiatives like the BBC World Service, foreign aid programmes, and demining operations—plays a critical role in maintaining the UK’s global influence. She warned that a retreat from international engagement risks ceding diplomatic and strategic ground to nations with strong economic resources, who can leverage these opportunities to extend their influence over poorer or strategically significant countries.

Returning to the issue of Russian hostilities, Manningham-Buller stressed that the threat is multifaceted, encompassing both cyber and physical dimensions. The integration of intelligence operations, sabotage missions, and targeted harassment of individuals creates a persistent pressure on UK authorities to strengthen resilience measures. She argued that understanding the full extent of these operations is essential for policymakers, law enforcement, and the intelligence community, particularly as cyber and hybrid warfare continue to evolve at a rapid pace.

In conclusion, Lady Manningham-Buller’s remarks underline the growing consensus among security experts that modern conflicts are not always conventional or declared in traditional terms. While Britain may not be engaged in a declared war with Russia in the traditional military sense, the intensity and sophistication of hostile acts—including cyber operations, sabotage, and targeted intelligence work—indicate a level of conflict that demands heightened vigilance and strategic preparation. Her perspective also highlights the need for sustained investment in national security, international partnerships, and humanitarian engagement to safeguard the UK’s interests and reinforce its position on the global stage.

The former MI5 chief’s warning serves as a reminder that modern warfare increasingly encompasses subtle and indirect forms of aggression, which require comprehensive monitoring, analysis, and policy responses. In the context of Russian actions in Europe and the UK, the lines between peace and conflict are blurred, demanding a recalibration of national security strategies to address unconventional threats. Manningham-Buller’s insights contribute to a growing body of expert opinion urging governments to treat hybrid warfare, cyber-attacks, and foreign sabotage with the same seriousness as traditional military confrontations, ensuring that the United Kingdom remains resilient against evolving threats.