Russia is prepared to launch a series of cyber attacks on Britain and other NATO countries in a bid to weaken support for Ukraine, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will warn in a major speech next week.
Moscow will “not think twice” about targeting UK business by exploiting defence gaps and allies must “not underestimate” the threat it poses, Mr McFadden will say in a speech to the Nato Cyber Defence Conference at Lancaster House.
He will also warn that cyber interference means Russia could “turn the lights off for millions of people”.
In the speech, Mr McFadden is expected to say: “Military hard-power is one thing. But cyber war can be destabilising and debilitating. With a cyber attack, Russia can turn the lights off for millions of people. It can shut down the power grid. This is the hidden war it is waging with Ukraine.
“Given the scale of that hostility, my message to members today is clear: no one should underestimate the Russian cyber threat to Nato. The threat is real. Russia is exceptionally aggressive and reckless in the cyber realm.”
He is also expected to refer specifically to Russian military Unit 29155, which the government says was previously linked to a number of attacks in the UK and Europe.
Alongside militarily-aligned hackers, there are gangs of “unofficial hacktivists” and mercenaries operating outside the Kremlin’s control, he will say, “but who are allowed to act with impunity so long as they’re not working against Putin’s interests.”
The Cabinet Office minister is expected to set out details of how the UK will seek to boost its protections against emerging cyber threats in a speech on Monday, as well as how the country is stepping up work with NATO allies.
He and senior national security officials are set to meet business leaders next week to discuss how they can protect themselves.
It comes as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall also told Sky News’ Sunday Morning programme that NATO countries are involved in a “hidden cyber war” with Russia.
She said: “We have to be absolutely vigilant as a government, but also in businesses and wider society to protect against those cyber hacktivists.
“We have for many months … really focused on making sure we have all the protections we need including cyber protections because there is a threat from Russia, this hidden warfare, as well as the open military aggression.”
