We could hit back with a cyber attack

THERESA May could order a cyberassault against Russia in retaliation for the attack after examining her diplomatic, economic and military options.

She will decide on a range of sanctions over the next 24 hours after urgent talks with Nato, the United Nations, EU and US.

The Prime Minister will also draw up a secret package of measures against Russia which will never be disclosed.

This could include targeting the Kremlin’s propaganda machine. Whitehall sources said yesterday they were accelerating their offensive cyber programme and could hit select targets for a specific effect.

It is understood this could lead to a specialist cyber unit being deployed in the UK to attack Kremlin computer networks spewing Russian propaganda and trolling factories spreading fake news.

Last night it also emerged that high-level talks were under way in the Ministry of Defence amid an urgent review of Britain’s ability to respond to chemical and biological attacks.

Other options for Mrs May include unilateral action, such as expelling diplomats, to collective longer-term moves such as beefing up Nato defences on its eastern flank.

The UN could accuse Russia of breaching international law, which would shame Vladimir Putin in front of the world.

Ofcom could also revoke the broadcasting licence of RT, formerly Russia Today, which critics accuse of acting as a mouthpiece for the Putin regime.

Last night the media watchdog said it would ‘consider the implications’ after the Prime Minister’s update tomorrow.

The UK could also scrap its official involvement in the World Cup in Russia, in which the England team is due to compete – and encourage allies to do the same, in a bid to deny the Putin regime a propaganda coup.

At the very minimum, the PM is likely to stop ministers, dignitaries and officials from going to the World Cup and the Royals could also stage a boycott. Britain could also cancel visas for Kremlin-linked oligarchs and freeze assets. Another option is to implement a British version of the US’s Magnitsky Act, which lists Russians involved in corruption and human rights abuses, banning them from entering the country.

There could be fresh sanctions against senior figures in the Putin regime, either with the EU or unilaterally.

General Sir Chris Deverell, commander of Joint Forces Command, has disclosed that the UK has a specialist unit which is dedicated to ‘offensive cyber’ run jointly by the MoD and GCHQ.

So far it has worked on Islamic State but this could be expanded towards Russia.

In an interview with the Mail last week, he said the military could hit back at disinformation spread by Russian trolling factories.

He said: ‘There are two ways you could respond. One is putting your own messages out to compete with the messages that actors like that are sending. And the other is with a cyber attack.

‘Whether or not you could use cyber as a weapon would depend upon the specific circumstances and the law.’

He said that there was a specific capability in which troops tackle mistruths spread by enemies.

The general added: ‘We have to make sure the truth competes with the lie.’

‘Make sure truth competes with the lie’