Cyber warfare with Russia has become a 'daily reality' for the UK

Cyber warfare with Russia has become a ‘daily reality’ for the UK, a senior minister will warn today.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden will tell a Nato conference that the Kremlin has become ‘exceptionally aggressive and reckless in the cyber realm’, with Vladimir Putin plotting a ‘destabilising and debilitating’ electronic assault.

Mr McFadden will also warn that Russia is seeking to ‘weaponise’ society’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence against us.

Addressing defence and cyber experts, he will warn that Nato has to stay ahead in a new ‘AI arms race’.

‘Cyber war is now a daily reality,’ he will say. ‘One where our defences are constantly being tested. The extent of the threat must be matched by the strength of our resolve to combat it and to protect our citizens and systems.

Ministers fear the Kremlin could launch a massive cyber offensive against the UK in retaliation for this country’s support for Ukraine and Sir Keir Starmer’s recent decision to allow Kyiv to deploy powerful British Storm Shadow missiles against military targets inside Russia.

Russia’s ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin last week said Britain was now ‘directly involved’ in his country’s war with Ukraine.

Unveiling plans for a new Laboratory for AI Security Research, Mr McFadden will say: ‘AI is already revolutionising many parts of life - including national security. But as we develop this technology, there’s a danger it could be weaponised against us. Because our adversaries are also looking at how to use AI on the physical and cyber battlefield.’

Last year, North Korea was found to be using AI to try and accelerate its development of sophisticated ‘malware’.

Mr McFadden will warn that the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre is already locked in a round-the-clock battle with hackers and cyber criminals sponsored by Moscow.

He will reveal that Russia has already targeted the UK’s telecoms and energy infrastructure as well as the media and political and democratic institutions.

But he will insist the Government will not drop its support for Ukraine in the face of intimidation and attacks from Russia.

‘Be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and others are watching Russia,’ he will say. ‘We know exactly what they are doing, and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes.

‘We know from history that appeasing dictators engaged in aggression against their neighbours only encourages them. Britain learned long ago the importance of standing strong in the face of such actions.

‘That’s why we support Ukraine in its fight to decide its own destiny. Putin is a man who wants destruction, not peace. He is trying to deter our support for Ukraine with his threats. He will not be successful.’

Mr McFadden will warn that Putin is attempting to ‘turn out the lights for millions’ by targeting Ukraine’s power supplies.

But government sources last night said they were confident that the UK’s cyber defences protecting the UK’s critical national infrastructure can withstand the electronic onslaught from Russia.

Moscow is seen as one of the most aggressive states engaged in cyber warfare alongside China, North Korea and Iran.

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said Nato states were involved in a ‘hidden cyber war’ with Russia.

She told Sky News there was ‘not only the open military war with Russia as the aggressor, but there is also a hidden cyber war and that Russia will do everything in its power to destabilise not only within Ukraine but amongst the Nato allies’.

She added: ‘We have to be absolutely vigilant in that as a Government, but also in businesses and wider society to protect against those cyber hacktivists.’