Putin is ready to unleash cyber attacks on the UK, a minister has warned
The UK faces the imminent threat of crippling cyber attacks from Russia, which could “knock out the lights for millions,” the prime minister will warn at a NATO cyber defense conference in London.
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, is expected to highlight Russia’s readiness to fight a cyber war targeting critical infrastructure and businesses, urging firms to strengthen their defenses.
Mr McFadden will describe Russia as “aggressive and reckless” in the cyber space, seeking to undermine countries that support Ukraine. He will warn that a Russian attack could shut down power grids and disrupt the UK economy, stressing that both state and private criminals aligned with the Kremlin are actively expanding their targets to NATO members.
“Russia’s cyber capabilities can weaken and weaken as much as a military one,” Mr McFadden said, adding that UK hackers have already targeted the UK’s power networks, communications and democratic institutions. Recent hacks at NHS hospitals, thought to involve Russian groups, have delayed more than 800 operations, including serious cancer treatments.
Mr McFadden will also highlight the growing development of “hacktivist” groups operating outside the Kremlin but with tacit approval. He will cite attacks on local councils and NATO allies as examples of how these actors are expanding their reach and wreaking havoc.
“These teams are unpredictable and can do a lot of damage with one miscalculation,” he will say. “Putin is happy to exploit any loopholes in our defence, targeting British businesses and infrastructure.”
The Government is preparing a Cyber Security and Resilience Bill to strengthen the UK’s cyber defences. The proposed legislation would empower regulators, force businesses to report attacks, and require critical infrastructure providers to protect their supply chains. Ministers are also consulting with business leaders to improve cyber defenses amid estimates that cybercrime costs the UK £27 billion every year.
The warning comes as tensions rise following Russian threats to target countries that supply Ukraine with weapons, including the UK’s Storm Shadow missiles. Last month, Russia tested an intermediate-range missile and signaled it might retaliate against the West, adding further urgency to the need for stronger cyber defenses.
