In her first public speech as head of MI6, Blaze Metreveli, who became the first woman to lead the service in October this year, sharply criticized Russia and sent a direct message to President Vladimir Putin.
Metreveli described Putin’s Russia as an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” power that deliberately “exports chaos” through sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and other forms of hybrid warfare.
“Putin should have no doubt: our support for Ukraine is unwavering. The pressure we exert in Ukraine’s interests will continue,” the MI6 chief said in a speech delivered at the service’s headquarters in London.
She emphasized that “exporting chaos is not a mistake, but a feature of Russia’s approach to international relations,” and that this will continue “until Putin is forced to change his calculations.”
Metreveli also noted that “the front line is now everywhere” due to threats of assassination attempts, sabotage, and information manipulation by Russia and other hostile states. According to her, the rules of conflict are being rewritten, especially against the backdrop of the Kremlin’s aggression following its invasion of Ukraine.
The statement was made against the backdrop of ongoing peace talks in Ukraine, including a summit in Berlin attended by European leaders and US representatives. The UK emphasises that its position on supporting Kiev remains unchanged, despite pressure from Donald Trump’s administration to make possible territorial concessions.
Blaze Metreveli replaced Richard Moore and became the first woman to head MI6 in the agency’s 116-year history. Her speech emphasizes the importance of technological superiority in intelligence to counter modern threats.