Johnson plan for online war against Russia

Political Editor BORis Johnson is threatening to declare cyber war on Russia if it invades ukraine.

The plan is to cripple its economy with a blitz of fake social media posts. A security source explained: “if you can persuade Russia’s population the West will disable its ATMs there will be a run on the banks. it doesn’t matter that we can’t do it.”

Other covert action could include feeding viruses into Russia’s computer networks controlling its major infrastructure.

The PM has ordered Britain’s spy bosses to strike the country where it hurts.

The uK’s cyber spies will also work with specialists in the MoD, Foreign Office and Treasury in a defensive role to combat Russian so-called “bikini bots”.

These are automated social media accounts fronted by scantily clad models that can spew out dangerous propaganda and fake news in millions of tweets and posts.

Meanwhile, the PM will warn Mr Putin his Nord stream 2 pipeline to export gas from Russia to Europe could be blocked.

And Defence secretary Ben Wallace is off to Moscow for lastditch talks to avoid catastrophe while Foreign secretary liz Truss will tour Eu capitals.