War with Russia is already on Britain’s doorstep as evidenced by cyber-attacks, sabotage, arson, and other hostile activity orchestrated by President Vladimir Putin, a former head of MI5 says.

Eliza Manningham-Buller, who led the domestic spy agency two decades ago, says she agrees with analysts who caution Moscow was at war with the west.

Communist allies show similar intent in inviting World War III.

Lady Manningham-Buller argued the situation had changed “since the invasion of Ukraine and the various things I read about that the Russians have been doing here – sabotage, intelligence collection, attacking people and so on”.

Speaking on a podcast in which she was interviewed by the lord speaker, John McFall, she then referenced Russia expert Fiona Hill.

Hill advised President Donald Trump during his first term as U.S. president and co-authored the UK’s strategic defence review.

“I think she may be right in saying we’re already at war with Russia. It’s a different sort of war, but the hostility, the cyber-attacks, the physical attacks, the intelligence work is extensive,” Manningham-Buller said.

Pat McFadden, a Cabinet Office minister, said last year Russia had stepped up its cyber-attacks against the UK.

Hackers have targeted a string of British businesses.

While the source of the attacks can take time to detect, many are suspected to have originated in Russia.

All that has been played out alongside Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Wider elements of the UK defence infrastructure appear to be already operating on the assumption war with Russia will come sooner rather than later.

In June, Whitehall confirmed it will revive and update the Cold War-era Government War Book.

This is a detailed plan for dealing with an attack on the nation by a foreign power.

Russia, in other words.

The plan hasn’t been updated for decades.

Of particular concern are Ukraine war-style strikes against Britain’s critical national infrastructure.

A conventional missile strike against the nation’s nuclear power plants poses serious risks.

Pollster YouGov previously revealed fresh research conducted as part of a series to measure the public mood.

The research marked the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

It found large numbers of citizens in Western countries feel “World War 3 is likely in the next 5-10 years.”

Tensions between Europe and Russia was seen as the biggest threat to peace.

Islamism followed closely behind.

The former MI5 chief’s warning confirms what many have suspected about Russia’s activities.

Moscow operates through plausible deniability, making attribution of attacks difficult but not impossible.

The cyber warfare campaign targets critical infrastructure that Western populations depend on daily.

Russian intelligence operations in Britain have intensified since the Ukraine invasion began.

Physical attacks and sabotage represent an escalation beyond traditional espionage activities.

The arson incidents attributed to Russian actors show willingness to cause direct harm.

Putin’s strategy avoids open declaration of war while conducting hostile operations against Western nations.

This approach allows Russia to test Western resolve without triggering Article 5 NATO responses.

The Communist allies’ similar activities suggest coordination among authoritarian regimes against the West.

China’s role in supporting Russian aggression cannot be separated from this broader conflict.

Britain’s decision to update its Government War Book reflects serious military planning for Russian attack.

The Cold War-era document being revived shows how dramatically the security situation has deteriorated.

Nuclear power plants represent particularly vulnerable targets for Russian missile strikes.

Ukraine’s experience with infrastructure attacks provides a preview of potential Russian tactics against Britain.

YouGov’s polling data reveals public awareness of the deteriorating security environment in Europe.

The five to ten year timeframe for potential World War III shows citizens expect escalation.

Russia and Islamism ranking as top threats reflects the dual challenge facing Western security.

Trump’s first term saw him receive intelligence briefings from experts like Fiona Hill about Russian threats.

The current administration must take these warnings seriously and prepare accordingly.

Britain’s domestic spy agency understanding the scope of Russian operations should alarm all Western nations.