The new chief of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service, Blaise Metreweli, stated that Russia poses a serious threat to the security of the West, as by BBC. She took over leadership of the Secret Intelligence Service in autumn 2025, becoming the first woman to hold the post, succeeding Sir Richard Moore on October 1.
In her first public speech, Metreweli said that modern hybrid warfare includes cyberattacks, the use of drones, and other actions targeting critical infrastructure. She described Russia as “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist,” adding that “the front line is everywhere.”
The head of MI6 also emphasized that the United Kingdom will continue to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin in the interests of Ukraine.
In her remarks, Metreweli noted the recent imposition of sanctions against Russian organizations accused of waging information warfare, as well as against two Chinese companies for “indiscriminate cyber activity against Britain and its allies.” She stressed that Western sanctions have damaged the Russian economy by redirecting exports to China and India, but have not changed Putin’s determination to continue the war against Ukraine until his demands for territorial concessions and Kyiv’s loyalty are met.
Metreweli placed special emphasis on technology. Having begun her career at MI6 in 1999, she worked her way through Q Branch — the ultra-secret division that develops gadgets and devices for field agents. She urged staff to master modern technologies, be able to work with computer code, including Python, and combine digital skills with traditional intelligence methods. She noted that in the era of data and biometric technologies, spies can no longer rely solely on false identities, and that MI6 must remain relevant and effective.
At the same time, Britain’s Chief of the Defence Staff, Richard Knighton, called for a “whole-of-society approach” to strengthening national resilience. He said the world is more dangerous today than at any point in his career and stressed that Russia seeks to challenge NATO, constrain the alliance, and weaken its position.
Sir Richard added that the UK’s response must go beyond the armed forces and involve the entire country — universities, industry, the railway network, and the National Health Service. He emphasized that a new era of defense requires national-level engagement and announced the allocation of £50 million (about $61 million) to establish new centres of excellence in defense education.
