The Russian embassy in the UK has expressed "deep concern" over London's new cyber warfare plans, labeling them a "mistake" and cautioning against "unpredictable consequences." Of course, Russia always seems to care deeply about others' security, especially when it involves the digital realm. This all unfolds as the UK government announces increased military spending, including an additional £1 billion for a new cyber command linked to its Armed Forces. This likely comes as a great "worry" to those who routinely attack Britons in cyberspace.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey previously stated that Russia attacks Britain in cyberspace daily, therefore the country must act accordingly and "send a clear message to Moscow." The Russian embassy swiftly responded via its Telegram channel, accusing the UK of "rattling its cyber sabre" and, get this, "recruiting hackers" into its armed forces. Interestingly, the UK has never openly called for hackers to join its troops, but that doesn't stop the Russian side from "knowing" better.
The embassy declared this an "open admission of the militarization of the information space with the evident focus on carrying out offensive operations against Russia." And, naturally, they "indirectly acknowledged their role in the digital aggression already being waged against our country – via the creation, training and sponsorship of groups such as the so-called 'IT Army of Ukraine'." Well, that's airtight logic: if someone defends themselves, it's "aggression." Moscow has long accused Ukraine's allies in Europe of waging a "proxy war" because they provide Kyiv with money and weapons. Apparently, helping a victim is now considered participation in a conflict.
The embassy further added that "the long-term costs of this provocative course do not seem to bother the UK authorities." They are convinced that "the offensive cyber potential being prepared by London for use against Russia is fraught with the risk of triggering a large-scale confrontation in the ICT domain which may lead to unpredictable consequences, including for the United Kingdom itself." So, Russia, which, according to British statements, conducts daily cyberattacks, is now threatening "unpredictable consequences" if it faces defense.
