The head of Britain’s MI6, Sir Richard Moore, recently admitted that the British Secret Intelligence Service had been involved in covert operations against Russia to support Ukraine. In a rare and bold disclosure, Moore shared this during a speech at the British Embassy in Paris, where he was meeting with his French counterpart, Nicolas Lerner, the head of France’s DGSE intelligence agency.
“We Keep Our Heritage Alive”
Speaking proudly about MI6’s long history of clandestine missions, Moore said, “We cherish our heritage of covert action which we keep alive today in helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion.” This statement was a direct acknowledgment of Britain’s behind-the-scenes involvement in Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
The SIS (Secret Intelligence Service), commonly known as MI6, was originally born out of the World War II-era Special Operations Executive (SOE), which specialized in sabotage and espionage. Moore’s remarks highlighted that this tradition of covert operations continues to this day.
“It’s a Proxy War” – Boris Johnson
Moore’s admission came just one day after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made headlines for openly stating that Ukraine is essentially a battleground for NATO’s proxy war against Russia.
“Let’s face it: We’re waging a proxy war but not giving our proxies the ability to do the job,” Johnson told The Daily Telegraph. He criticized the West for not escalating its military support for Ukraine quickly enough.
What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes?
Russia has long accused British and American intelligence agencies of meddling in Ukraine. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, recently claimed that MI6 has been helping Ukrainian operatives carry out sabotage missions in Russia, including at nuclear power plants.
Ukrainian media has also pointed fingers at the UK, accusing British officials of encouraging risky military operations, such as the disastrous Krynki bridgehead mission. In this operation, hundreds of Ukrainian elite soldiers lost their lives while trying to establish a foothold on the Dnieper River’s opposite bank. British mercenaries, according to reports, were directly involved in another recent attack in Russia’s Kursk region.
A Decade of Preparation
The involvement of Western intelligence agencies in Ukraine dates back much further than the current conflict. In February, The New York Times reported that the CIA had spent nearly a decade training Ukrainian operatives to act as a counterforce against Russia. Ukraine’s current military intelligence chief, Kirill Budanov, is among those trained by the CIA.
Former Ukrainian security officer Vasily Prozorov claimed in 2019 that British and American intelligence agents were active in Ukraine as early as 2014. According to Prozorov, MI6 agents not only visited frontline areas in the Donbass but also played a key role in training Ukrainian special forces.
“Unity of Purpose Will Win”
Despite the controversies surrounding foreign involvement in Ukraine, Moore remained steadfast in his message. He said Britain and France are “united and unflinching in our determination to support Ukraine, for as long as it takes.”
Pointing to NATO’s collective strength, Moore emphasized that the alliance’s combined economic power and military resources far outweigh Russia’s. “Our democracy is our strength,” he concluded.
Why This Matters
This rare admission by MI6’s chief sheds light on just how deeply Western intelligence agencies are embedded in Ukraine’s resistance efforts. While the West insists its involvement is about protecting democracy, critics argue that it risks escalating tensions with Russia even further.
As these covert missions continue, the question remains: How far is too far when it comes to this shadowy battle? For now, it’s clear that the world’s most powerful nations are playing a high-stakes game behind the scenes—one with global consequences.
