Jeremy Fleming, the head of GCHQ, has praised the new government counter-disinformation cell focused on Kremlin propaganda.
Fleming spoke at the Australian National University in Canberra yesterday, arguing that President Putin had massively miscalculated his invasion Ukraine. He revealed that Russian soldiers are “refusing to carry out orders, sabotaging their own equipment and even accidentally shooting down their own aircraft.”
Fleming has also argued that Ukraine’s social-savvy President Zelensky has inspired information campaigns worldwide with his messages of hope and resistance.
“In the UK, it’s focused in a new Government Information Cell which identifies and counters Kremlin disinformation targeted at UK and international audiences. It brings together expertise from across government to challenge false narratives. It deals in facts, not falsehoods; making sure that the truth is told well,” he explained.
The GCHQ head has also dismissed suggestions that Russia plans to carry out a massive, destructive cyber-campaign in Ukraine. While several variants of disk-wiping malware have been identified, there is no evidence of a knock out blow being delivered.
