The Wargame
Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you? A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country. Written and presented by Sky News' security and defence editor, Deborah Haynes. This is Deborah's second podcast series for Sky News. In her first series, Into The Grey Zone, Deborah explores the murky evolution of warfare. What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They're all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored.
Episodes
January 1, 2021 • 2 mins
What do assassinations, cyber hacks and disinformation have in common? They’re all weapons used by states against each other in a grey zone of harm that sits - deliberately - under the threshold of war, but could be just as dangerous if ignored.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores this often invisible battlefield, where anything can be - and is - used as a weapon and anyone, anywhere can be a target.
The series examines gre...
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores this often invisible battlefield, where anything can be - and is - used as a weapon and anyone, anywhere can be a target.
The series examines gre...
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January 10, 2021 • 48 mins
This episode seeks to explain what the grey zone is. It includes a warning from General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the UK’s armed forces, and Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, about the danger of ignoring attacks in this murky space, while Lieutenant General Graeme Lamb, a former director of UK special forces, warns: “We’re being boiled like a frog!”
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes then travels to Salisbury with the widow of ...
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes then travels to Salisbury with the widow of ...
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January 18, 2021 • 47 mins
This episode explores a battle between truth and lies that’s threatening democracies around the world. It looks at how information is used as a weapon, not just by hostile foreign states, seeking to divide and weaken rival nations, but also by domestic politicians and other actors.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes speaks to the author of a book on the history of disinformation, Professor Thomas Rid , who talks about fake news duri...
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes speaks to the author of a book on the history of disinformation, Professor Thomas Rid , who talks about fake news duri...
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January 25, 2021 • 41 mins
This episode looks at the grey zone weapon of hacking information – like private emails or documents – and then leaking it online to try to influence people or damage reputations.
It is a tactic Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, is accused of using to target the US presidential election in 2016 and the French election in 2017.
Moscow has denied involvement.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes also talks about how she was ...
It is a tactic Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, is accused of using to target the US presidential election in 2016 and the French election in 2017.
Moscow has denied involvement.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes also talks about how she was ...
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February 1, 2021 • 42 mins
States, criminals and terrorists all use cyber to attack each other in the grey zone. It puts anyone with a computer in the firing line, but also means that anyone who understands computers has the ability to fight back.
This episode explores a range of cyber threats from espionage up to attacks that cause physical harm, such as by targeting hospitals or electricity supplies.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes also speaks to a young ...
This episode explores a range of cyber threats from espionage up to attacks that cause physical harm, such as by targeting hospitals or electricity supplies.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes also speaks to a young ...
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February 7, 2021 • 50 mins
In their first joint interview, the director of the UK spy agency GCHQ and the top general in charge of cyber operations for the military talk about how the UK is using the power of cyber to push back against adversaries with the creation of a whole new National Cyber Force.
Jeremy Fleming and General Sir Patrick Sanders also reveal new details about how the UK used offensive cyber in the fight against Islamic State, attacking the t...
Jeremy Fleming and General Sir Patrick Sanders also reveal new details about how the UK used offensive cyber in the fight against Islamic State, attacking the t...
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February 15, 2021 • 40 mins
On 3 January 2020, the United States killed Iran’s top spy master, Major General Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Iraq.
There was nothing grey or ambiguous about the assassination, but this episode explores the escalating grey zone hostilities between Iran and the United States in the preceding years and how they almost ignited a real war.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in particular how Iran allegedly uses proxy fo...
There was nothing grey or ambiguous about the assassination, but this episode explores the escalating grey zone hostilities between Iran and the United States in the preceding years and how they almost ignited a real war.
Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in particular how Iran allegedly uses proxy fo...
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February 22, 2021 • 46 mins
This episode explores a global battle of values between China and leading democracies over issues like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang.
It’s being fought with an array of covert weapons, from cyber attacks and information operations to economic coercion and even something called “lawfare”.
Allegations of such behaviour are made and denied by both sides, which of course is to be expected - in the grey zone.
Guests:
Tom Tugendhat, Conserv...
It’s being fought with an array of covert weapons, from cyber attacks and information operations to economic coercion and even something called “lawfare”.
Allegations of such behaviour are made and denied by both sides, which of course is to be expected - in the grey zone.
Guests:
Tom Tugendhat, Conserv...
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March 1, 2021 • 43 mins
What happens when the grey zone becomes a war zone and what might future wars look like, with hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence and cyber changing calculations?
These are questions Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in this episode, in part, by looking at Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
She also talks to General Sir Nick Carter, the head of Britain’s armed forces, about what he t...
These are questions Sky News journalist Deborah Haynes explores in this episode, in part, by looking at Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
She also talks to General Sir Nick Carter, the head of Britain’s armed forces, about what he t...
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March 3, 2021 • 50 mins
In this final episode, we have the first ever interview with serving MI5 officers who work in counter intelligence.
Tom and Kate talk about the challenge of grey zone threats from Russia and reveal their shock at the Salisbury spy poisonings.
They also reveal that the Security Service has bolstered protection for people in the UK deemed at risk from Russia and is doing “everything we can” to prevent another Salisbury-style attack, bu...
Tom and Kate talk about the challenge of grey zone threats from Russia and reveal their shock at the Salisbury spy poisonings.
They also reveal that the Security Service has bolstered protection for people in the UK deemed at risk from Russia and is doing “everything we can” to prevent another Salisbury-style attack, bu...
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May 20, 2025 • 2 mins
A bunker. A scenario. A group of former senior ministers, military chiefs and other experts. Russia knows our weaknesses – but do you?
Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes presents The Wargame – a major new five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise, set in the near future.
Launching 10th June.
Sky News' security and defence editor Deborah Haynes presents The Wargame – a major new five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise, set in the near future.
Launching 10th June.
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June 9, 2025 • 59 mins
Tensions with Russia escalate, and an imaginary week in the near future takes a turn for the unexpected. The Prime Minister calls an emergency Cobra meeting.
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Wr...
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Wr...
Mark as Played
June 9, 2025 • 54 mins
Hostilities with Russia erupt into an unprecedented attack. The Prime Minister and his team scramble to respond. Will the UK’s allies choose to help them?
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Writ...
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Writ...
Mark as Played
June 16, 2025 • 48 mins
The Prime Minister must address the nation. Meanwhile his ministers and officials do their best to deal with a crisis the UK hasn’t seriously prepared for in a generation.
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend th...
-
Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend th...
Mark as Played
June 16, 2025 • 58 mins
A city is on fire. The UK fights back. Russia and Britain both have nuclear weapons. Will either country use them?
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Written and presented by Sky News' security...
-
Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Written and presented by Sky News' security...
Mark as Played
June 23, 2025 • 53 mins
Hostilities worsen despite attempts to broker a ceasefire. What happens next requires difficult decisions and hard choices.
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Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Written and presented by Sky News'...
-
Russia knows our weaknesses. But do you?
A major five-part series from Sky News and Tortoise which imagines how a Russian attack on the UK could play out – and invites real-life former ministers, military chiefs and other experts to figure out how to defend the country.
Written and presented by Sky News'...
Mark as Played
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