GCHQ Director Anne Kist-Butler said that Russia is deliberately threatening critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust in the UK.
In her first public speech in the role, she outlined the main challenges facing the country and the measures she believes are needed to counter these threats. Kist-Butler said GCHQ is working with its intelligence and defence partners to deter cyberattacks and counter sabotage and assassination attempts.
“In the face of such aggression and chaos, GCHQ is working tirelessly with its intelligence and defence partners to degrade and reduce the Russian threat,” Kist-Butler said.
Government Communications Headquarters is the largest of the three intelligence services in the UK, alongside the Security Service MI5 and the Secret Intelligence Service MI6. Based in Cheltenham, the agency focuses on cyber security and electronic intelligence.
The Kremlin denies accusations of espionage plots and waging an undeclared hybrid war against the UK and other NATO countries. Against this backdrop, GCHQ positions cyber defence as one of the key areas of national security.
