False Flag | The Wargame Ep 1

Hostilities worsen despite attempts to broker a ceasefire. What happens next requires difficult decisions and hard choices.  -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.

A city is on fire. The UK fights back. Russia and Britain both have nuclear weapons. Will either country use them?  -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. Episode 5 will be released on 24th June 2025.

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. -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. Episode 5 will be released on 24th June 2025.

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? -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. Episodes 3 and 4 out on Tuesday 17th June. 

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.-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.Episodes 3 and 4 out on Tuesday 17th June. 

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.

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, but there are no “absolute guarantees” – in the grey zone.Guests:Tom, senior MI5 intelligence officer working on RussiaKate, MI5 intelligence officer investigating the activities of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRULord Mark Sedwill, former UK national security adviserDominic Grieve, former senior Conservative MP, former chair of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, former attorney generalCredits:Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris ScottProduction support from Sophia McBide and Michael GreenfieldThe Head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

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 thinks is the gravest threat to the UK and about how the military is adapting to operate in the grey zone.Guests:General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence StaffGeneral Sir Richard Barrons, former head of Joint Command, now Strategic CommandEmine Dzhaparova , First Deputy Foreign Minister of UkraineSergei Markov, political scientist and former member of the Russian parliamentKeir Giles, senior consulting fellow at Chatham HouseOrysia Lutsevych, head and research fellow, Ukraine Forum, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham HouseCredits:Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris ScottProduction support from Sophia McBide and Michael GreenfieldThe Head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

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, Conservative MP, chair of the Foreign Affairs CommitteeMatthew Turpin, visiting fellow, Hoover InstitutionCharlie Parton, former British diplomat, senior fellow at the Royal United Services InstituteDr Shi Yinhong, Director of the Academic Committee of the School of International Studies and US Research Center of Renmin University in BeijingNathan Law, pro-democracy activist from Hong KongJulie Marionneau, research fellow, Policy ExchangeFreddy Lim, Taiwanese politician, lead singer of heavy-metal band ChthonicAlexander Downer, former Australian foreign ministerPuma Shen, assistant professor at National Taipei UniversityChinese embassy in London – via email statementCredits:Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris ScottProduction support from Michael GreenfieldThe head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris

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 forces in the grey zone, under the threshold of war, to try to level the playing field when competing with a super power.Interviews:General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence AgencyJohn Raine, Senior Adviser for Geopolitical Due Diligence, International Institute for Strategic StudiesAnne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative MP and former UK defence minister. She now serves as energy ministerFabian Picardo, Chief Minister of GibraltarAnonymous Iraqi MPSeyed Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism, University of TehranMajor General Amos Yadlin, a former chief of Israel’s Military Intelligence DirectorateCredits:Written and narrated by Deborah Haynes Edited and produced by Chris ScottProduction support from Michael GreenfieldThe head of Sky News Radio is Dave Terris