Cambridge again enduring a Russian winter

White House, and historian Peter Martland. Mr Halper has said his decision to step down was due to “unacceptable Russian influence” on the group.

Last night, a former KGB spy chief said it is entirely possible the experts’ alleged fears are true.

The CIS was set up by MI5 historian Professor Christopher Andrew. Seminars, which take place on Fridays at the university’s Corpus Christi college, are advertised on the university website, with previous attendees including Mike Flynn, Donald Trump’s choice as new national security adviser for the US, and Dr Paul Martin, the exdirector of parliamentary security.

Suspicions were allegedly raised after claims a new digital publishing house called Veruscript, which helps cover some of the CIS’s costs, may be acting as a front for the Russian intelligence services.

The publishing house which, according to its website, is based in London, is also publishing a new document, the

Some of those involved are thought to be concerned that Russia may attempt to use the link to the seminars to influence sensitive debates on national security, sources said.

Last night, experts warned it was feasible for the Russians to be involved, despite there being no hard evidence.

Oleg Gordievsky, who ran the KGB’s London bureau and was a double agent for British intelligence service from 1974, said Russians were targeting creative industries but in larger cities, such as London. “It is possible [they have defence and Sir Richard Dearlove, above, master of Pembroke College at Cambridge, left, has resigned from the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar due to growing Russian influence targeted CIS] but it is not very important,” he said. “Cambridge is just a small pin point. The centre of the earth is London and there are at least 40 officers, including 25 KGB officers, there.

“They are always not very organised as they are very poorly paid and therefore they are not dangerous. They would use publishing or creative industries to infiltrate. It is very possible they might be doing this.”

The warnings came as Government sources acknowledged for the first time that Russia is waging a “campaign” of propaganda and unconventional warfare, including fake espionage, misinformation, cyber attacks and bogus news, against Britain.

It is understood that intelligence officers and senior civil servants voiced their concerns during a meeting at the Cabinet Office two months ago.

Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, who chairs the House of Commons Intelligence and Security select committee, said he did not wish to speculate as to the precise reasons for Sir Richard’s departure. But he admitted Russian involvement was “possible” amid a “cascade” of Russian intelligence-related activities.

He said: “After the heady days of post-Cold War, we seem to be going very rapidly in the opposite direction.

“Television outlets like Russia Today are running around all over the place. There is a lot of Russian activity.

“It is perfectly plain that the Russians are in a hyperactive mode and this seems to be, on the face of it, orchestrated by Mr Putin – and frankly I find it very worrying.” Britain is to train more than 1,000 extra troops in Ukraine as it seeks to counter an increasingly “assertive and provocative” Russia in eastern Europe.

The troops will be taught how to spot mines and provide first aid, as well as learn about operational planning.

The UK has already trained 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers facing hostility from Russian-backed militias. Sir