The speech by Richard Moore, chief of MI6 was aimed in-part at President-elect Donald Trump's impending second term.

British spies are taking “covert action” against Russia to help defeat Vladimir Putin in his effort to take Ukraine, the head of MI6 has said.

The head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service says Russia is conducing a “staggeringly reckless” sabotage campaign against Ukraine's allies that risks dangerously escalating the conflict

He added that decision-making centres in Kyiv could become a target for Oreshnik - the new ballistic missile Russia used to attack the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia struck Ukraine with 90 missiles and 100 drones overnight in response to Ukraine's attacks with UK and US weapons last week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike Ukraine again with a new nuclear-capable ballistic missile following Moscow’s latest widespread attack on critical energy infrastructure.