Russia-linked hackers want to ‘destroy’ UK, Tory minister warns

Moscow-aligned groups have turned their attention to UK in recent months, says Oliver Dowden

Conservative party chairman Oliver Dowden (PA)

Britain is facing cyber threats from Russia-aligned groups who want to “to disrupt or destroy” critical infrastructure, senior Tory minister Oliver Dowden has warned.

The Cabinet Office minister used a speech in Belfast to say Russia hackers are “ideologically motivated, rather than financially motivated” and have begun to target the UK this year.

Mr Dowden confirmed that the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is issuing an “official threat notice” to operators of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.