Russians should spy for Britain, says departing head of MI6
Dominic Nicholls
Fri, September 19, 2025
THE TELEGRAPH
Richard Moore leaves his post as head of the Secret Intelligence Service at the start of next month - Dilara Irem Sancar/Getty Images
Russians should spy for Britain to “redeem their country’s honour”, according to the outgoing head of MI6.
Sir Richard Moore warned that Vladimir Putin was “stringing us along” in Ukraine and claimed that the Kremlin had its sights on nothing “short of Ukrainian capitulation” in his last public speech as head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS).
He said: “In the end, if we hold our nerve, Putin will need to come to terms with the fact that he has a choice: risk an economic and political crisis that threatens his own rule, or make a sensible deal.”
Speaking in Istanbul, Sir Richard said Russia was much weaker than many people realised and was “accelerating this decline”.
It comes after Donald Trump, who previously claimed he could end the war within one day of entering the White House, said he has been “really let down” by Putin at a press conference during his state visit to the UK.
Sir Richard Moore says Vladimir Putin (second from right) has ‘lied to the world’
- Daniel Torok/The White House
In a speech that also announced the launch of a new dark web portal through which sensitive information can be sent directly to MI6, Sir Richard said: “Putin has bitten off more than he can chew.”
“He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself.
“Putin is mortgaging his country’s future. Russia’s economy and demography and its means to project imperial power are in long-term decline, and Putin’s war is accelerating this decline.
“Greater powers than Russia have failed to subjugate weaker powers than Ukraine.”
In a speech that also announced the launch of a new dark web portal through which sensitive information can be sent directly to MI6, Sir Richard said: “Putin has bitten off more than he can chew.”
“He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself.
“Putin is mortgaging his country’s future. Russia’s economy and demography and its means to project imperial power are in long-term decline, and Putin’s war is accelerating this decline.
“Greater powers than Russia have failed to subjugate weaker powers than Ukraine.”
Russia’s war with Ukraine is well into its fourth year
- Yevhen Titov/EPA/Shutterstock
The spy chief also used his final public-facing engagement to reflect on his time as head of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6’s official name.
He lamented that only 40 per cent of his agency’s staff were women, with the figure for ethnic minorities being “just under 10 per cent”.
Sir Richard did, however, point to “some measurable achievements”, saying many more women were in leadership roles in MI6 than five years ago, including in intelligence operations in the UK and overseas, and in the spy agency’s technical teams.
He paid tribute to the “nimbleness” of MI6 which, although thought to be less than half the size of the CIA – exact staffing levels for both organisations are not publicly known – is very highly regarded by US officials.
He said John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, recently told him, “you guys can really hustle”.
Praise for ‘nameless’ heroes
Sir Richard reserved particular praise for the agents who provide MI6 with information about threats to the UK.
“Because of their bravery,” he said, “and the bravery of other agents around the world, our ministers very often play their cards, knowing at least some of what is in the other side’s hand.
“Neither I nor any other chief will confirm their names.
“Many of our most consequential agents will travel through history faceless and nameless to the public, but quietly celebrated within MI6 by those few, even in the Service, who know.”
Sir Richard hands over to Blaise Metreweli on Oct 1. She will be the 18th chief of MI6 and is expected to continue the custom of writing in green ink, even in emails; a tradition started by the original “C”, Sir Mansfield Cumming.
Sir Richard said he looked forward to reflecting on his career “in private”.
“I am now hanging up my cloak, returning my imaginary dagger to its scabbard and handing over my famous green pen.”
The spy chief also used his final public-facing engagement to reflect on his time as head of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6’s official name.
He lamented that only 40 per cent of his agency’s staff were women, with the figure for ethnic minorities being “just under 10 per cent”.
Sir Richard did, however, point to “some measurable achievements”, saying many more women were in leadership roles in MI6 than five years ago, including in intelligence operations in the UK and overseas, and in the spy agency’s technical teams.
He paid tribute to the “nimbleness” of MI6 which, although thought to be less than half the size of the CIA – exact staffing levels for both organisations are not publicly known – is very highly regarded by US officials.
He said John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, recently told him, “you guys can really hustle”.
Praise for ‘nameless’ heroes
Sir Richard reserved particular praise for the agents who provide MI6 with information about threats to the UK.
“Because of their bravery,” he said, “and the bravery of other agents around the world, our ministers very often play their cards, knowing at least some of what is in the other side’s hand.
“Neither I nor any other chief will confirm their names.
“Many of our most consequential agents will travel through history faceless and nameless to the public, but quietly celebrated within MI6 by those few, even in the Service, who know.”
Sir Richard hands over to Blaise Metreweli on Oct 1. She will be the 18th chief of MI6 and is expected to continue the custom of writing in green ink, even in emails; a tradition started by the original “C”, Sir Mansfield Cumming.
Sir Richard said he looked forward to reflecting on his career “in private”.
“I am now hanging up my cloak, returning my imaginary dagger to its scabbard and handing over my famous green pen.”
Exiting MI6 chief Moore: Russian PM Putin not interested in negotiated peace with Ukraine
Danielle Haynes
Fri, September 19, 2025
UPI
The building housing the Britain's MI6 is seen by the river Thames in London. On Friday, outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no interest in negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn't recognize the former Soviet republic's sovereignty. File Photo by Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPAMore
Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Britain's outgoing spy chief, Richard Moore, warned Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no intention of negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn't view the former Soviet republic as having its own sovereignty.
Moore made the remarks at the British consulate in Istanbul as he prepares to step down from his role as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service. He has led the organization, also known as MI6, for five years.
"I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukraine capitulation," Moore said as he address efforts by Britain and the United States to broker a deal to resolve the conflict.
Putin "is stringing us along," Moore added. "Because the issue ... has always been sovereignty: Putin denies Ukraine's sovereignty and its very existence as a country and nation."
Moore said Putin has attempted to portray that Russian victory over Ukraine is "inevitable," but accused the president of lying to his people and the world.
"He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal," Moore said, adding that Putin doesn't have the ability to take Ukraine by force.
"Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he -- and many others -- underestimated the Ukrainians," Moore said
"Indeed, Putin's actions have strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated the country's westward trajectory, as well as persuaded Sweden and Finland into joining NATO."
Moore chose Istanbul for his farewell speech because he said Turkey is of "pivotal importance" to the international community.
"On almost all of the issues that I have grappled with as chief of MI6, Turkey has been a key player," he said.
Moore spent eight years living there, including four as British ambassador from 2014 to 2017. He also studied in the country as a student and his daughter was born there.
D.E.I. LONG AFTER JAMES BOND
The building housing the Britain's MI6 is seen by the river Thames in London. On Friday, outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore said Russian President Vladimir Putin has no interest in negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn't recognize the former Soviet republic's sovereignty. File Photo by Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPAMore
Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Britain's outgoing spy chief, Richard Moore, warned Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown no intention of negotiating peace with Ukraine because he doesn't view the former Soviet republic as having its own sovereignty.
Moore made the remarks at the British consulate in Istanbul as he prepares to step down from his role as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service. He has led the organization, also known as MI6, for five years.
"I have seen absolutely no evidence that President Putin has any interest in a negotiated peace short of Ukraine capitulation," Moore said as he address efforts by Britain and the United States to broker a deal to resolve the conflict.
Putin "is stringing us along," Moore added. "Because the issue ... has always been sovereignty: Putin denies Ukraine's sovereignty and its very existence as a country and nation."
Moore said Putin has attempted to portray that Russian victory over Ukraine is "inevitable," but accused the president of lying to his people and the world.
"He seeks to impose his imperial will by all means at his disposal," Moore said, adding that Putin doesn't have the ability to take Ukraine by force.
"Bluntly, Putin has bitten off more than he can chew. He thought he was going to win an easy victory. But he -- and many others -- underestimated the Ukrainians," Moore said
"Indeed, Putin's actions have strengthened Ukrainian national identity and accelerated the country's westward trajectory, as well as persuaded Sweden and Finland into joining NATO."
Moore chose Istanbul for his farewell speech because he said Turkey is of "pivotal importance" to the international community.
"On almost all of the issues that I have grappled with as chief of MI6, Turkey has been a key player," he said.
Moore spent eight years living there, including four as British ambassador from 2014 to 2017. He also studied in the country as a student and his daughter was born there.
D.E.I. LONG AFTER JAMES BOND
Upon Moore's departure later this month, MI6's current technology lead, Blaise Metreweli, will take over as head of the organization. She will be the MI6's first female chief since its founding in 1909.
Outgoing MI6 chief says Putin has ‘bitten off more than he can chew’ in Ukraine
Ruth Michaelson in Istanbul
THE GUARDIAN
Fri, September 19, 2025
‘Come spy with us,’ said Richard Moore in his call to recruit more operatives to MI6.Photograph: Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu/Getty Images
The outgoing head of MI6 has issued a damning indictment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying that Vladimir Putin has “bitten off more than he can chew”.
Related: Blaise Metreweli named as first woman to lead UK intelligence service MI6
Richard Moore, known within MI6 as C, used his farewell speech in Istanbul to say that while Russia was unlikely to win on the battlefield, his agency was seeking to recruit spies inside Russia and worldwide in order to fight back.
“Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable, but he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself,” said Moore. “But we should not believe him. Or credit him with strength he does not have.”
Any Russian victories on the battlefield remained incremental, said Moore, and incurred massive costs as the president’s army fell far short of its original aims to swiftly capture all of Ukraine.
The rising costs now included more than a million casualties – a quarter of them “poorly trained troops from Russia’s poorest regions” that were “fed into the meat grinder”, he said.
Fri, September 19, 2025
‘Come spy with us,’ said Richard Moore in his call to recruit more operatives to MI6.Photograph: Dilara Irem Sancar/Anadolu/Getty Images
The outgoing head of MI6 has issued a damning indictment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying that Vladimir Putin has “bitten off more than he can chew”.
Related: Blaise Metreweli named as first woman to lead UK intelligence service MI6
Richard Moore, known within MI6 as C, used his farewell speech in Istanbul to say that while Russia was unlikely to win on the battlefield, his agency was seeking to recruit spies inside Russia and worldwide in order to fight back.
“Putin has sought to convince the world that Russian victory is inevitable, but he lies. He lies to the world. He lies to his people. Perhaps he even lies to himself,” said Moore. “But we should not believe him. Or credit him with strength he does not have.”
Any Russian victories on the battlefield remained incremental, said Moore, and incurred massive costs as the president’s army fell far short of its original aims to swiftly capture all of Ukraine.
The rising costs now included more than a million casualties – a quarter of them “poorly trained troops from Russia’s poorest regions” that were “fed into the meat grinder”, he said.
A former ambassador to Ankara, Moore appeared to choose Istanbul as the place to launch a drive to recruit spies due to the large numbers of Russian visitors to Turkey as well as its proximity to Ukraine.
The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has long sought to position his country – a Nato member and the host of slow peace talks that have come to little – as an important interlocutor with Moscow.
The outgoing spy chief also cited other threats to British and global security, notably Iran. Millions of Iranians visit neighbouring Turkey each year, and Moore pointedly added that MI6’s recruitment offer via a new portal on the dark web was open to anyone.
“Our door is always open,” he said. Citing his entreaties to Russian citizens during a previous visit to Prague, he added: “Come spy with us.”
Iran, China and North Korea had all aided Putin’s war in Ukraine, Moore said, allowing Putin to avoid possible internal collapse or an inevitable ceasefire deal.
“In the end, if we hold our nerve, Putin will need to come to terms with the fact that he has a choice to risk an economic and political crisis that threatens his own rule, or make a sensible deal,” he said. “This is a choice he would have had to confront earlier, if not for the outside help he had been receiving.”
Moore used his speech to launch MI6’s secure messaging platform, named Silent Courier, as a way for potential recruits to contact the organisation and offer their services. He presented this as a way to help Britain and its allies repel Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possibly accelerate the decline of Putin’s rule.
“Not all Russians subscribe to Putinism,” he said. “Some keep their heads down and try to get on with their lives as best they can. Some, like Alexei Navalny, resist openly and die for their beliefs, but others do so secretly – by working for MI6.”
Promising potential Russian recruits security and protection, Moore framed the offer as an opportunity to bring peace to Europe.
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