U.K. Spy Chief Warns of Growing Russian Threat in Europe

New MI6 Director Blaise Metreweli Highlights Hybrid Warfare and Disinformation

In her inaugural public address as head of MI6, Britain’s foreign intelligence service, Blaise Metreweli warned that Russia is actively seeking to spread chaos across the continent.

Metreweli explained that Moscow is employing a blend of “hybrid attacks,” which include cyber intrusions, covert sabotage, and the manipulation of public opinion through coordinated disinformation campaigns.

“The Russian strategy is no longer confined to the battlefield,” she said. “It aims to undermine democratic institutions, sow division, and destabilise our societies from within.”

She called on European allies to intensify intelligence sharing, bolster cyber‑defences, and develop a unified response to counter the escalating threat.

Metreweli’s comments come amid a surge in cyber incidents and propaganda operations that intelligence agencies have traced back to Russian state actors.