MI6

Sept. 19 (UPI) — Britain’s outgoing spy chief, Richard Moore, warned Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no intention of negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn’t view the former Soviet republic as having its own sovereignty.

Moore made the remarks at the British consulate in Istanbul as he prepares to step down from his role as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service. He has led the organization, also known as MI6, for five years.

“I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukraine capitulation,” Moore said as he address efforts by Britain and the United States to broker a deal to resolve the conflict.

Putin “is stringing us along,” Moore added. “Because the issue … has always been sovereignty: Putin denies Ukraine’s sovereignty and its very existence as a country and nation.”

Moore said Putin has attempted to portray that Russian victory over Ukraine is “inevitable,” but accused the president of lying to his people and the world.

“He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal,” Moore said, adding that Putin doesn’t have the ability to take Ukraine by force.

“Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he — and many others — underestimated the Ukrainians,” Moore said.

“Indeed, Putin’s actions have strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated the country’s westward trajectory, as well as persuaded Sweden and Finland into joining NATO.”

Moore chose Istanbul for his farewell speech because he said Turkey is of “pivotal importance” to the international community.

“On almost all of the issues that I have grappled with as chief of MI6, Turkey has been a key player,” he said.

Moore spent eight years living there, including four as British ambassador from 2014 to 2017. He also studied in the country as a student and his daughter was born there.

Upon Moore’s departure later this month, MI6’s current technology lead, Blaise Metreweli, will take over as head of the organization. She will be the MI6’s first female chief since its founding in 1909.

MI6 is launching its own dedicated portal on the dark web in the hope of attracting new spies online, notably from Russia.

Secure messaging platform Silent Courier aims to strengthen national security by making it easier for the intelligence agency to recruit, the Foreign Office said.

Potential agents in Russia and around the world will be targeted by the UK, it adds.

Outgoing MI6 Chief Sir Richard Moore On Friday appealed to potential spies globally to anonymously access the dark web by following instructions on MI6’s own YouTube video.

In his final public speech as MI6 Chief, Sir Richard launched the worldwide recruiting drive targeting potential spies in Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and elsewhere.

In the same speech delivered from Istanbul on Friday morning, he expressed scathing criticism of President Putin, saying “there is no evidence” the Russian president has any interest in a negotiated peace, “short of Ukrainian capitulation”.

“He is stringing us along”.

He added that Putin cannot succeed in Ukraine and said Putin has “bitten off more than he can chew”, adding that Russia’s economy and demography are in long term decline and “Putin’s war is accelerating”.

The MI6 Chief also accused China of supporting Russia’s war effort both diplomatically and through dual use goods like “chemicals that end up in their shells and electronic components that end up in their missiles”.

China’s support, he said, along with Iran and North Korea’s is preventing Putin from making a sensible deal.

Later this month Sir Richard is due to hand over to Blaise Metreweli.

Ahead of Friday’s announcement about the new dedicated portal, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “National security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the prime minister’s Plan for Change.

“As the world changes, and the threats we’re facing multiply, we must ensure the UK is always one step ahead of our adversaries.

“Our world-class intelligence agencies are at the coalface of this challenge, working behind the scenes to keep British people safe.

“Now we’re bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK – in Russia and around the world.”

Anyone who wants to securely contact the UK with sensitive information relating to terrorism or hostile intelligence activity will be able to access the portal from Friday.

Instructions on how to use the portal will be publicly available on MI6’s verified YouTube channel.

Users are recommended to access it through trustworthy VPNs and devices not linked to themselves.

The launch follows a similar approach by the US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which published videos on social media channels to target potential Russian spies in 2023.

The CIA previously suffered a disastrous loss of its agents in China after their connections to the dark web were breached by Beijing’s Ministry of State Security.

Officials said it was one of the worst security breaches of recent years.

Platform to allow people to securely pass on information anywhere in the world, or offer their own services to MI6.

The United Kingdom’s spy agency is set to launch a web portal on the dark web to recruit informants and receive secret information from agents in Russia and worldwide, Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has said.

The Secret Intelligence Service, known as MI6, will officially announce the launch of the secure messaging platform called “Silent Courier” on Friday.

It is aimed at harnessing the anonymity of the dark web – the murky, hidden part of the internet often used by criminal actors – and allowing anyone, anywhere in the world, to securely contact the UK spy agency.

Users of the portal can securely pass on details about illicit activities anywhere in the world, or offer their own services, according to a Foreign Office statement.

Outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore – who is due to hand over to Blaise Metreweli later this month – will officially launch the web portal in Istanbul on Friday.

“Today we’re asking those with sensitive information on global instability, international terrorism or hostile state intelligence activity to contact MI6 securely online,” Moore is set to say when he formally announces the plans.

“Our virtual door is open to you,” he will add.

Instructions on how to use the portal will be publicly available on MI6’s verified YouTube channel.

Users have been encouraged to access it through VPNs and devices not linked to themselves.

MI6 was established in 1909 but was not officially acknowledged by the UK government until the 1990s.

The spy agency operates from the iconic SIS Building on the banks of the River Thames in London and only its head – known as “C” – is a publicly named member of the service.

In advance of the portal’s launch, new Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said that “national security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the prime minister’s Plan for Change” – referring to a national revitalisation plan outlined by the premier and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer in December.

“As the world changes, and the threats we’re facing multiply, we must ensure the UK is always one step ahead of our adversaries,” Cooper said.

“Now we’re bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK – in Russia and around the world,” she added.

The US’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) took a similar approach in 2023, when it published videos on social media attempting to recruit potential Russian spies.

Stars from two of the biggest shows of the century are going head-to-head in an upcoming thriller on Sky

Sky has just released a brand new trailer for its upcoming thriller series, Atomic, starring some very recognisable names from the world of TV.

The gripping new footage released this Thursday (14th August) promises plenty of action and jaw-dropping twists and turns throughout this high-stakes chase across North Africa and the Middle East.

Game of Thrones icon Alfie Allen leads the series as a drug smuggler who gets mixed up with wanderer JJ, played by Star Trek: Discovery’s Shazad Latif.

When they find themselves inadvertently trafficking some valuable and volatile cargo, their mission catches the attention of worldwide enforcers who will stop at nothing to take them down.

The Handmaid’s Tale star Samira Wiley heads up their opposition as Cassie Elliott, who’s determined to bring them in after falsely connecting them to dangerous elements.

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An official synopsis reads: “When the path of free-spirited drug smuggler Max (Allen) collides with JJ (Latif), an enigmatic outsider on the run, an unlikely friendship is formed.

“They’re swept into a chaotic, high-stakes mission they never signed up for— trafficking highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East, with the CIA, MI6, and a global web of opposing forces closing in fast.

“Leading the charge for the CIA is highly skilled scientist and a Non-Official Cover (NOC) officer Cassie Elliott (Wiley).

“Convinced Max and JJ are in league with violent extremists, her relentless pursuit puts them all on a collision course revealing that nothing is what it seems, and everyone has an ulterior motive.

“The pair find themselves on a wild road trip, confronting covert operatives, an internationally funded cartel, and ultimately their own pasts.

“What starts as a bid for survival slowly becomes something more: a reluctant partnership, a shot at redemption, and one hell of a ride.”

Atomic is shaping up to be one of Sky’s biggest shows of the year and is set to cap off the summer with a bang.

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One viewer replied to the trailer on YouTube: “both lead actors rock – let’s see how the writers are.”

And another said: “Sky does these types of serials extremely well. They’re yet to let me down. I look forward to giving this a chance.”

Is it on your radar or are you not a fan of high-octane thrill rides?

Atomic premieres Thursday, 28th August on Sky.