Russia could invade Ukraine within days following a massive cyber attack on Friday, experts have warned.
The online blitz on government websites left much of the eastern European country without heat, light and access to money.
It is thought to be a classic attempt by President Vladimir Putin to destabilise the former Soviet Union nation before launching a physical invasion with 100,000 Russian troops on the border.
Some analysts think the Russian leader will use fake assaults against his soldiers as an excuse to invade.
Britain’s Defence Sceretary Ben Wallace, who met Scandinavian defence ministers this week, said today: “Our discussions were clear that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a strategic mistake, violating the most basic freedoms and sovereignty.”
Tobias Ellwood, boss of the Commons defence committee, said: “I am afraid an invasion by Russian forces is inevitable and imminent and we have allowed this to happen. Only President Putin knows what he is going to do next but next week would seem pivotal.”
Ukraine’s top security official, Oleksiy Danilov, said he is 99.9% sure Russia was behind the cyber blitz.
The Russian defence ministry released film of armoured vehicles being loaded on to trains in what it called a drill for deploying over long distances.
Meanwhile, in a rare display of Russian and US co-operation, a Moscow court remanded in custody three suspected members of cyber crime group REvil, which targeted American firms.
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