Rising threat 'I would take it seriously... I don't think it's hyperbole'

The Swedish government checklist for surviving a war would not have looked out of place decades ago: bottled water; sleeping bags; extra batteries; enough cash for a week; and non-perishable food like rice and cereal.

- Dan Milmo

Without being mentioned by name, Russia once more lurks in the background as it did during the cold war. But the nature of the threat has changed. As well as the threat of nuclear conflict or an armed border incursion, Europe must now contend with a very 21st-century foe: cyberwarfare.

Richard Horne, head of the National Cyber Security Centre, will warn today that "the severity of the risk facing the UK" from countries like Russia and China "is being widely underestimated".

Horne's warning comes as NCSC revealed a significant increase in serious cyber-incidents over the past 12 months.

Last week the cabinet minister Pat McFadden outlined the potential consequences of Russia's already active cyber-operations spilling into more serious areas.

"Cyberwar can be destabilising and debilitating," said the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. With a cyber-attack, Russia can turn the lights off for millions of people."