British intelligence has warned of a possible provocation by Putin against NATO in the coming months
Kyiv • UNN
According to British intelligence, Putin is preparing a direct confrontation with NATO in the coming months, using Trump's distraction on Iran. Russia is already changing the routes of its shadow fleet and conducting live-fire exercises near Plymouth.
According to sources in British intelligence, the United Kingdom and its NATO allies could face a direct challenge from Vladimir Putin in the coming months, who is likely to seek to test the new government of Andy Burnham and take advantage of the fact that Donald Trump's attention is focused on Iran. This is reported by the Daily Mail, writes UNN.
Details
According to interlocutors, Putin will try to exploit any signs of reduced resolve in London after Andy Burnham replaced Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
The Mail on Sunday also reports that Moscow is already trying to overload British resources by rerouting its "shadow fleet" of oil tankers. After one of them was intercepted by Royal Marine commandos in the English Channel last month, Russian ships began heading into the Atlantic through waters north of the Shetland Islands.
It is noted that even on the day Burnham officially took over the government, a Russian frigate caused concern by conducting live artillery fire drills just 46 miles south of Plymouth.
However, British intelligence sources warn that Moscow may resort to much more serious provocations.
"There is now a firm belief that Putin is preparing some form of direct confrontation with NATO within the next few months,"
According to him, several factors contribute to this: the Kremlin's belief that Donald Trump is distracted by the situation around Iran, as well as signs of discord among the Ukrainian leadership.
The British intelligence warnings came amid Iran's threats to strike British military bases, which Tehran considers "legitimate targets" due to their use by American bombers.
The United Kingdom has allowed the US to use bases such as RAF Fairford, but only on the condition that operations are exclusively defensive in nature.
According to the publication, the Iranian threats are so serious that British intelligence services have already launched a large-scale covert operation to prevent a possible attack on RAF Fairford.
At the same time, concerns remain that, despite plans to strengthen defenses, the United Kingdom is still vulnerable to ballistic missile strikes and is within range of some Iranian missiles.
Defence Eye expert Tim Ripley noted: "The top US commander in the Middle East, Admiral Brad Cooper, confirmed that Iran has a type of missile whose range could potentially reach London."
It also became known that the new UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and defense investment issues with his American counterpart Pete Hegseth on Friday.
Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defence stated that the country is "ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week" to defend against air and missile threats.
Wes Streeting also reacted strongly to possible actions by Moscow.
"Russia should not doubt the resolve of this government and this Prime Minister to stand up to Russian aggression — not only in Ukraine, but any aggression against the United Kingdom and our allies.
Just this week we invested over £700 million in a modern fighter jet program and other technologies, demonstrating our commitment to deterrence while supporting innovation, jobs and economic growth in the UK," he said.