Embassy comment on the anti-Russian information campaign in the United Kingdom

The British media persist in stoking anti-Russian hysteria. Almost simultaneously, senior figures from the intelligence community, armed forces and the Ministry of Defence — including the heads of MI6 and the Defence Staff — have joined this chorus. Journalists and commentators, echoing these overtly unfriendly speeches, have tended to overdramatise the matter, and by doing so have amplified the rhetoric still further.

Collectively and deliberately, they paint a picture of an immediate and all-encompassing threat to the UK allegedly emanating from Russia. They instill fear in the public — “sons and daughters” of the British — and urge them to get prepared for fighting – evidently against our country. The entire stock list of groundless anti-Russian accusations accumulated in recent years is once again brought to the fore.

Russia is blamed for launching cyber-attacks on Marks & Spencer stores, spreading disorder arising from the mismanagement of British airports, exploring undersea infrastructure, committing alleged acts of arson, and carrying out disinformation campaigns. We are accused of having aggressive intentions against neighbouring states and NATO. These claims are followed by calls for the mobilisation of state and society and for an even harsher posture towards Russia.

Meanwhile, the British public seems to be ignoring statements made by the Russian leadership — President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. We therefore find it necessary to reiterate a number of obvious facts.

Russia has no plans, intentions, or reasons for entering into an armed confrontation with the United Kingdom, although the local media keeps on presenting alarming scenarios to the British public. All insinuations framed as “hybrid threats” are also absolutely groundless.

By disregarding our explanations, politicians and opinion-makers do not act only against their own national interests, but also display a striking degree of hypocrisy. They speak of a mythical threat from the East, while very real Storm Shadow missiles strike Russian territory; British specialists assist Kiev in creating drones that, among other things, attack civilian vessels; the military train, instruct and equip the Ukrainian armed forces; mercenaries in Ukrainian formations are killed or taken prisoner; and representatives of the UK intelligence services openly seek to induce our citizens to betray their country.

Our positions differ fundamentally on how the Ukraine crisis should be resolved — a crisis in which Ukraine is being used by Western states as a weapon against Russia. We will, of course, take all necessary measures and employ appropriate means to defend our interests. Yet why make such an unconvincing attempt to portray Russia as a threat to the United Kingdom? In efforts to push European states onto the path of war with our country, we see, above all, a desire to cover up the failures of their own policy.

British society faces a wide range of challenges. These include areas of taxation, healthcare, migration, international trade, energy security and advanced technologies. Does the stoking of a Russian threat help to resolve them? It, clearly, does not. But it does an excellent job of diverting attention from awkward questions.

The British are rightly known for their pragmatism and enterprise, qualities that once underpinned the creation of a global empire.

Today, however, London is calling for the investment in a project that is obviously doomed to bankruptcy. Funds channelled to Kiev will quite literally be buried or misused.

British taxpayers can already observe the results in London’s Mayfair, in the form of luxury cars bearing Ukrainian licence plates. As for the proposals to appropriate Russian sovereign assets for Kiev’s needs, we would recall the proverb: you may take what belongs to others — but repayment will come from your own pocket — and with interest.

We are once again calling on the UK authorities and the media to put an end to portraying Russia as an enemy of the United Kingdom and Europe, and stop frightening their own population.