Russia Posing 'Ever Greater Threat To UK'

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has warned Russia is becoming an "ever greater threat" after what is feared to be a sophisticated chemical weapon plot targeted a double agent and his daughter on UK soil.

The British military has stepped up its rhetoric amid growing fears over Russian aggression.

Sir Chris Deverell, the commander of the UK's joint forces, admitted on Wednesday:

"They are quite honestly capable of anything."

Cyber-warfare

Senior military figures have repeatedly warned of the threat of a Russian cyber attack, which could target the power network or hijack air traffic.

Mr Williamson previously said Moscow had been examining UK infrastructure and could cause "thousands and thousands and thousands" of deaths by disrupting energy supplies.

Undersea cables

Underwater Russian activity could also chaos, according to the chief of defence staff.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach said in December that the protection of sea lines of communications had been prioritised by Britain to reflect the modernisation of Russia's navy fleet.

He warned there would be an immediate and "potentially catastrophic" hit to the economy if cables were cut or disrupted in an attack by submarines or a fishing trawler.

Submarines

There has been a "10-fold increase" in the number of submarines operating in the North Atlantic over the last seven years, Mr Williamson revealed on Thursday.

A Royal Navy warship located and shadowed a Russian diesel-electric submarine off the east coast of the UK in May last year.

This incident and others have likely fuelled fears of the underwater threat posed by Russia.

Warships

Russian warships have also increased their presence close to UK waters, with the Royal Navy warning of a "recent upsurge" in the number of units travelling through the area.

It was reported on January 8 that HMS Westminster, a Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate, was tasked to intercept two of Vladimir Putin's warships and two supporting vessels as they passed nearby.

HMS St Albans spent Christmas Day escorting the Russian Admiral Gorshkov frigate through the North Sea, and just a day earlier another ship was called to monitor an intelligence-gathering vessel through the English Channel.

Air

RAF fighters have been scrambled to protect airspace amid growing tensions.

Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth intercepted two Russian long-range bombers as they approached to within 50 miles of the UK in January.

It followed at least three similar incidents near UK airspace in the last year.