A Russian man was among a group of migrants who illegally arrived in Britain on a small boat this week, according to reports. The man was detained with 21 others near Dover on Tuesday, sparking renewed security concerns amid increased hybrid warfare threats from Moscow.
Undetected Arrival Raises Security Concerns
The small boat initially reached Britain undetected by Border Force, with the majority of its passengers intercepted after landing on the southeast Kent coast. There is no evidence to suggest the Russian national was a spy, and Home Office officials are investigating whether his arrival was an attempt to dodge being called up to fight in Ukraine, the Daily Mail reports.
The Kremlin has been accused of waging a campaign of sabotage, drone incursions and disruption against European allies of Ukraine with the aim of undermining support for Kyiv and causing wider instability and unrest.
Officials Warn of Hybrid Attacks
Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service has warned of a "low but growing risk" of Moscow resorting to "a limited military attack" against NATO states, alongside the "intensified hybrid attacks" expected in the coming months.
The ISU union, which represents Border Force officers, said migrant boats are "definitely" landing on British shores undetected. ISU spokesperson Lucy Moreton said: "It's absolutely, definitely happening ... We know that we've had abandoned vessels, we've had reports of uncontrolled landings all the way down to Falmouth."
Home Office Under Fire
Ms Moreton accused the Home Office of taking the position that "if we don't look for it, we don't know it's happening [and] we don't have to deal with it".
A former Border Force boss also told the Press Association that the whole of the south coast should be monitored for migrant crossings, rather than just the narrowest section of the Channel, the Dover Strait. Ex-director general Tony Smith said it was "very unlikely" the boats had unwittingly drifted to the beaches undetected and suggested they may have wanted to "evade capture altogether".
Home Secretary Responds
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the uncontrolled landings were "not acceptable" but insisted they were "incredibly rare". She added: "But even one is one too many. That is why I have ordered an urgent review by the Border Security Command into how this happened, and what must be done to ensure it doesn't happen again."
