In a dramatic escalation of tensions between London and Moscow, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has revealed that 18 Russian intelligence operatives have been identified and expelled from the UK following a series of sophisticated cyber attacks targeting British infrastructure.
A Decisive Response to Cyber Aggression
The announcement comes after months of investigation by UK security services, who uncovered evidence linking the individuals to recent malicious cyber activities against government systems and critical national infrastructure.
"This represents the largest single expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in recent history," Lammy stated during a press conference at the Foreign Office. "We will not tolerate such threats to our national security."
The Scale of the Threat
Security experts have identified several concerning patterns in the recent cyber attacks:
- Targeting of energy sector systems
- Attempts to access sensitive government communications
- Disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining public trust
Diplomatic Fallout
The move is expected to significantly strain UK-Russia relations, with Moscow likely to respond with reciprocal measures. However, Lammy emphasized that the UK government had "compelling evidence" to justify its actions.
This development follows similar actions by other Western nations in recent years, as concerns grow about Russia's cyber warfare capabilities and intelligence-gathering operations abroad.
