The Government says Russia poses an “enduring and significant threat” to Britain and British interests worldwide, as senior figures from the UK's defence industry and critical national infrastructure sectors prepare to receive secret Whitehall briefings on the threat of attacks, sabotage and cyber warfare.
Ministers will brief the bosses as the UK steps up its response to the threat from Moscow. The Government says the Russian state and its proxies are deliberately seeking to disrupt businesses and organisations that underpin everyday life in the UK or support Ukraine. The tactics identified include cyber attacks, sabotage and disinformation.
Ministers Chair Security Briefings
Ministers say such activity can be used to take organisations offline, disrupt their operations and undermine public trust. Security Minister Dan Jarvis will chair a briefing involving industry bodies representing critical national infrastructure providers. Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones will separately hold talks with representatives from the defence industry.
Mr Jarvis said: “Strong defences are built on a clear understanding of the threat.” He added: “That’s why I’ll be chairing this briefing, to share world-class intelligence with some of the most important organisations in the country, to ensure they understand and are prepared for the threats we face.”
Meetings to Bolster National Resilience
The meetings are intended to ensure businesses understand the risks posed by Russia and know what measures they can take, working with the Government, to protect themselves. Ms Sandher-Jones said Russia was “actively seeking to disrupt the organisations that form the bedrock of our national security”. She said bringing Government and defence industry leaders together would strengthen their understanding of the threat and Britain's resilience.
The new briefings follow similar sessions held earlier this year with university leaders and political parties on foreign interference and measures to strengthen national security. The Government said the latest meetings would complement existing support available to defence companies and critical infrastructure providers.
Existing Support and Recent Case
That includes specialist policing from organisations such as the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, cyber expertise from the National Cyber Security Centre and security advice from the National Protective Security Authority. Ministers also pointed to a case brought this month under the National Security Act against a British man accused of preparing an act of sabotage. The Crown Prosecution Service alleges the man received instructions from an individual believed to be linked to the GRU Volunteer Corps.
The Government has not disclosed the intelligence that will be shared during the closed-door briefings or identified the companies involved. But the decision to bring senior figures from the defence industry and critical infrastructure sectors into Whitehall comes amid heightened concern over Russian hybrid activity.
