The head of MI6 has urged Russian officials appalled by the horrors of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to “join hands with us” and spy for the UK to help end the bloodshed.
Sir Richard Moore used a rare public speech to reveal “many” had already taken this step since Russia’s invasion was launched 18 months ago.
The spymaster used the location of his appearance – the Czech capital of Prague – to draw on the horrors inflicted by the Soviet Union in 1968 to urge Russians today to act on their convictions given the atrocities in Ukraine.
“There are many Russians today who are silently appalled by the sight of their armed forces pulverising Ukrainian cities, expelling innocent families from their homes and kidnapping thousands of children,” Sir Richard said, speaking at the British embassy.
“They are watching in horror as their soldiers ravage a kindred country. They know in their hearts that Putin’s case for attacking a fellow Slavic nation is fraudulent.”
The spy chief highlighted comments by Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who exposed the phoney pretext for Russia’s war during his failed uprising, claiming it was to secure a medal for defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
