The Russian ambassador to the UK should be summoned into the Foreign Office and asked for an explanation over suspected Russian links to drone sightings over UK air bases, according to the Conservative’s shadow security minister Alicia Kearns.
On Friday, an investigation by The i Paper revealed that three people with links to Russian military and intelligence sites travelled to stay near top-secret UK air bases where suspicious drones were sighted.
One of the three individuals was just metres from the perimeter of RAF Mildenhall on a day when drones were flown over. At least two of the individuals are thought to have worked as seasonal fruit pickers in close proximity to the airbases – visiting fields close to the airbases at night.
The revelation raised serious questions about suspected Russian links to the incidents at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk in November last year.
Kearns urged the Government to take “swift action” by launching an investigation and summoning the Russian ambassador immediately.
She said: “Evidence Russia has been conducting drone reconnaissance at sensitive air bases reflects the growing risk from an increasingly desperate and hostile Kremlin.
“Any attempt by Russian intelligence to spy on, or interfere with, UK or allied defence and civil infrastructure must be met with a firm response – the Russian Ambassador should have been summoned. If they haven’t, why not?
“The Government needs to take swift action, launching an investigation, ensuring those individuals responsible are quickly identified and either arrested or declared persona non grata. Allies should have this information shared with them so they can do similarly.”
It comes as the House of Commons Defence Committee said it will consider the evidence of suspected Russian links to drone sightings over UK air bases as part of an inquiry into “grey zone” activity by hostile states.
The chair of the committee, Tan Dhesi MP, said the inquiry will ask the Ministry of Defence (MoD) about its “role in protecting UK infrastructure from hostile threats, including drones,” following revelations by this newspaper.
He said: “Attempts by hostile states to undermine the UK’s defence and security are extremely concerning – ‘grey zone’ activities pose a serious threat. Attacks on European infrastructure, including on undersea cables, have become more and more frequent. The drone activity around UK military bases should be investigated fully.
“The Defence Committee’s inquiry into ‘grey zone’ defence is examining how the UK can prepare for the full gamut of security challenges coming from hostile states, such as Russia.
“As our inquiry continues, we intend to ask the MOD what it sees as its role in protecting UK infrastructure from hostile threats, including drones.”
The evidence of Russian links to the drone sightings is based on a database of open-source location data, provided to this newspaper by a former intelligence official who monitors hostile state cyber threat movements. Although it is not definitive proof of Russian involvement, former intelligence officials said the evidence suggested the work of Russian influence operations.
The database has been made available to UK and US officials investigating Kremlin involvement in the sightings at the air bases – where the US Air Force houses state-of-the art aircraft and defence technology.
A senior former British military intelligence official who has reviewed the database seen by this newspaper said it suggested significant Russian “grey area activity” – a term for espionage operations launched when two countries are neither at peace or direct war.
A number of senior politicians have joined calls for the MoD to investigate.
Julian Lewis, the former chair of the Defence Select Committee, has asked the MoD to make a statement to the House of Commons “as soon as possible” citing “credible evidence” of Russian involvement in the drone incursions.
Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, where two of the air bases are located, said he will “expect” a full investigation by the MoD and will write to the Defence Secretary, John Healey, to ensure residents are kept fully informed.
In response to this newspaper’s revelations, Timothy – the former joint chief of staff under Prime Minister Theresa May – said: “These are concerning reports and I expect them to be investigated in full.
“I will write to the Defence Secretary to ask him, understanding the need for some discretion with issues of national security, to be as transparent as possible with local residents.
“I have raised the drone incidents with ministers repeatedly since November, and stressed the need for residents to be kept informed.”
Drones have become a useful tool in international espionage as they can be flown into sensitive zones where flights are restricted in order to test the reactions of the authorities. They can also be fitted with specialist surveillance equipment to run reconnaissance missions.
RAF Lakenheath is seen as a highly sensitive site for both the UK and US as it is a potential location for the storage of US nuclear weapons.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We will not be offering a running commentary on operational security matters, however the public can rest assured that we take threats seriously and maintain robust measures at defence sites.”
A US Air Forces Europe spokesperson said: “We can confirm that small unmanned aerial systems were spotted in the vicinity of and over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell between November 20 and 22. The number of UASs [unmanned aircraft system] fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration. The UASs were actively monitored and installation leaders determined that none of the incursions impacted base residents or critical infrastructure.
“To protect operational security, we do not discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation. We continue to monitor our airspace and are working with host-nation authorities and mission partners to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.”
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