A series of suspected Russian sabotage attacks shows that Moscow is already waging war against the UK, it has been warned.
Tensions have reached new highs in recent weeks after the UK allowed Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian territory.
In response, Russia has threatened the UK with both military and cyber attacks.
But Russia may already be targeting the UK as well as other countries in Europe, according to reports.
Recent bomb scares in London, the presence of drones at a US air base in the UK, and an explosion at a weapons manufacturing facility in Wales in April are among the incidents that have sparked suspicion.
The Telegraph has compiled a list of these seven incidents, with experts warning that Russia is already trying to destabilise Britian.
One other example came in June, when a Russian ransomware group hacked into NHS data and stole private information.
Qilin, a Russian-based ransomware group, hacks into NHS data and steals private patient information including names and dates of birth.
In October. a DHL warehouse in Birmingham was set ablaze and authorities believe that an incendiary device was planted by Russian operatives as the package was delivered.
Over the last few weeks, drones have been spotted flying over US and RAF bases in the UK. The Ministry of Defence is investigating where they are from.
A man was charged earlier this month after an alleged bomb hoax outside the US Embassy in London.
A similar incident also occurred at Gatwick Airport and Euston Square this month. Controlled explosions were carried out by police in both cases.
MI5 director general Ken McCallum said in a speech last month that Russia will target the UK with operations to cause chaos in the UK.
He said: “We should expect to see continued acts of aggression here at home.
“The GRU [Russia’s military intelligence service] in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets: we’ve seen arson, sabotage, and more. Dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness.”
Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, also warned recently that “the risk that NATO will eventually consider invoking its mutual defence clause [Article 5]”
He added: “We have recently uncovered a staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe, even as Putin and his acolytes resort to nuclear sabre-rattling, to sow fear about the consequences of aiding Ukraine, and challenge Western resolve in so doing.”
1. Drones spotted circling over three RAF bases in England
2. Suspicious package arrives at DHL warehouse in Birmingham, before catching fire
3. Gawick Airport bomb scare results in evacuation
4. Another bomb scare at the US embassy in London
5. An industrial unit in Leyton, east London, linked to Ukraine is hit by arson attack
6. Yet another bomb scare at Euston station in central London last weekend
7. NHS hack as Russian ransomware group hacks into data stealing UK patients’ info
