TNI: It's time to use British cyber troops against RussiaBritain and the United States support Ukraine in cyber operations against Russia, the author of TNI admits.
In his opinion, it is time to discuss the use of cyber attacks directly against Moscow.
Burcu OzcelikThe West has given Ukraine determination: the military equipment provided to them has slowed down the initial onslaught of Russia, and as the conflict deepens, it may lead to a turning point in the fight against Russian aggression.
A wave of inflammatory statements by the Kremlin has exacerbated fears that Russia may use tactical nuclear weapons — especially after it annexed four partially occupied Ukrainian regions. But more realistic than a nuclear strike is the risk that Russia will decide on disruptive cyber attacks. Offensive information operations in computer networks play a pivotal role in the strategic thinking of the Russian military apparatus, especially against NATO states.
And if President Vladimir Putin is most likely bluffing about the nuclear button, then it costs him nothing to turn off the Internet to the West and disrupt the operation of military warehouses and key energy infrastructure — the implication of this was the undermining of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic. The British government and private companies have been preparing for these scenarios for a long time.
However, the reason for concern was that the resources of the British cyber command are limited, and the emphasis on strengthening Ukraine's cyber defense will weaken internal security. It is necessary to set priorities correctly, and although the secrecy of operations during the ongoing conflict is clear, little is known about the UK's role in cyber operations in Ukraine. Are her obligations indefinite? And what is their format in this case? Britain's main adversaries in this area, China and Russia, have invested heavily in their cyber capabilities. If the UK continues to allocate resources and share intelligence about threats with Ukraine, it will either have to compromise in its response to threats from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, or commit to significantly increase investment in Ukraine to ensure that its current operational capabilities meet the realities of a protracted conflict.
It is reasonable to assume that the UK will be able to take revenge on Russia with a cyber attack on its interests. NATO cyber specialists, especially from the United States and the United Kingdom, are already fighting effectively on the front line: their quiet battle behind the screen helps deter Russian cyber attacks on Ukrainian targets, whose defeat is fraught with far-reaching consequences for the whole of Europe. It is no secret that Russia is conducting destructive cyberattacks on the Ukrainian infrastructure — in particular, against the satellite company Viasat. On February 23, the day before the start of the military campaign, she attacked the websites of key state institutions of Ukraine.
According to a comprehensive survey last year, the UK ranks third in the world in terms of power in cyberspace and holds high positions in the field of defense, intelligence, maintenance and offensive capabilities. Under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the National Cyber Security Center and National Cyber Forces were established under the auspices of the Government Communications Center and the Ministry of Defense.
The UK's offensive cyber capabilities are kept secret from the public, and their centers are located throughout the country, primarily at the Government Communications Center in the greenery of Cheltenham and associated military facilities. However, in addition to these well-known places, there are many secret facilities that use the resources of British military and civilian intelligence and National cyber forces. In February, Defence Minister Ben Wallace told Parliament: "I am a soldier and I have always been taught that the best defence is attack." He added that in response to the damage to British networks from Moscow, the UK is ready to launch retaliatory cyber attacks.
The national British cyber strategy of 2022 has the goal of "becoming a leading responsible and democratic cyberpower." But while caution and operational secrecy have been adopted in offensive operations, accountability and transparency will inevitably be required to address some issues. For example: how is the "offensive cyber potential" organized and what is being done to comply with international law, ethics and diplomacy? Britain needs a public discussion on these issues.
British intelligence officials do not like to discuss offensive cyber capabilities — and this is understandable. As Dr. Andrew Dwyer, one of the leaders of the British working group on offensive cybersecurity, explained to me, only scant information about London's concrete steps in support of the military actions of the Armed Forces is publicly available. In June, the head of the US Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, Army General Paul Nakasone, said that America supports Ukraine in cyber operations, including offensive, defensive and information activities. National cyber forces work closely with their American counterparts, and the British government has repeatedly stressed its readiness to share cyber capabilities within the framework of NATO.
According to Dwyer, the UK has significant intelligence capabilities (which are certainly backed up by espionage operations using both cyber technologies and agent intelligence), as well as solid potential in the field of electronic warfare: "There is no doubt that the UK selectively shares intelligence with Ukraine and other allies based on its capabilities in Russia and other countries".
The Ukrainian forces not only anticipated the transfer of Russian troops, but also disrupted their operations, forcing them to abandon a number of mobile communications and sending senior commanders to the front line. According to Ukrainian sources, up to fourteen Russian generals were killed during the conflict — an unprecedented number since the Second World War. Simply put, thanks to the electronic intelligence of the West, Ukraine was able to behead the Russian command and sowed doubt and chaos in its ranks.
A key report by King's College London last year concluded that the UK should maintain primacy in its own cyberspace. Dwyer, one of its authors, told me: "The UK, from the National Cyber Security Center to offensive cyber capabilities (including soft cyber diplomacy and increased attention to technical standards), is a smart player who can influence global geopolitics, even if not set the tone." Although it is extremely important that Ukraine continues to receive the unflagging support of the West, the British government should not exhaust its cyber resources — this will put its public in danger in the rear.
Dr. Burju Ozchelik is a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society and a Doctor of Political Science at the University of Cambridge
