Labour

UK summons infrastructure and defence chiefs for closed-door briefings on Russian threat

Senior figures from Britain's critical infrastructure and defence sectors are to receive closed-door Government briefings on Russian cyber, sabotage, espionage and hybrid threats.

By Charlotte Mercer • Published 25 September 2026 at 19:31 • 2 min read
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Senior figures from Britain's critical national infrastructure and defence sectors are to receive closed-door Government briefings on the threat posed by Russia.

The Government announced the meetings on 25 September as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with industries responsible for essential national services and defence capability.

Security and intelligence experts will brief representatives on threats including cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage and other forms of hostile or hybrid activity.

Critical infrastructure chiefs called to Whitehall

Security Minister Dan Jarvis will chair a session involving organisations representing critical national infrastructure providers.

The briefing is intended to give senior industry figures access to Government assessments of the Russian threat and help organisations strengthen their preparedness and resilience.

Separate briefing for defence industry

Armed Forces Minister Louise Sandher-Jones will lead a separate session for representatives from the defence industry.

The meetings will include assessments from Government security and intelligence experts and are intended to improve information sharing between Whitehall and organisations that could be targeted by hostile activity.

Government highlights cyber and sabotage threat

The Government says Russia poses a range of threats to the UK extending beyond conventional military activity, including cyber operations, espionage, sabotage and other hybrid tactics.

Ministers are seeking to ensure companies responsible for important infrastructure and defence capabilities understand the Government's assessment of those threats and can take appropriate protective measures.

The decision to hold the briefings is a confirmed Government action. Specific allegations concerning individual Russian operations should be distinguished from the broader threat assessment and attributed to the relevant Government or security authorities where appropriate.

Announcement follows Prime Minister's UN speech

The move follows Prime Minister Andy Burnham's address to the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week, in which he accused Russia of conducting hybrid attacks and spreading disinformation.

The new industry briefings represent a practical step following those wider warnings, bringing Government security specialists together with organisations responsible for strategically important parts of the British economy and defence sector.

Focus on national resilience

The closed-door sessions are intended to give infrastructure and defence leaders a clearer understanding of the threat environment while improving coordination between the public and private sectors.

Sources

  1. UK Government: Critical infrastructure and defence chiefs to receive closed-door briefings on Russian threats
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