In the light of the recent revelations about Russian links to the drones spotted over RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath in November, Nick Timothy MP wrote to the Secretary of State for Defence to request as much information is made public as possible. He raised concerns about the risks posed by the battery energy storage systems that are part of the Sunnica development for sabotage and arson, given the hybrid methods favoured by the Russian military, security and intelligence agencies. You can read more about the letter below. It sought assurances about new revelations relating to the drone sightings over RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.
Context
In late November last year, abnormal drone activity was reported by several residents of West Suffolk near the military bases – as well as near RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. While Mr Timothy previously discussed the incident with the Ministry of Defence in November shortly after the sightings and received briefings afterwards, a recent investigation carried out by the i newspaper has exposed linkages with the Kremlin.
- It followed the movements of three persons close to the base at the time of the drone activity and has found that they have connections to Russia:
- One individual who was a matter of meters from the perimeter of RAF Mildenhall at the time of the drone incident had frequently been seen in the Russian Embassy in Berlin.
- Another, who repeatedly visited areas around RAF Mildenhall, was found to have been present ‘at Russia’s largest military facility in Tajikistan in February 2024. They visited remote areas surrounding RAF Mildenhall on several occasions before returning to the Russian military base within two months of the drone sightings’.
- The third individual was ‘known to have access to a facility belonging to Russia’s main intelligence agency (GRU) in Moscow during 2023, flew into London Stansted in August last year. They then visited areas around RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall throughout September and October before flying back to Russia, via Turkey, where they spent time in a military district on the outskirts of Moscow.’
Mr Timothy has previously raised concerns that the Russian interest in RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall, combined with the hybrid methods of the Russian military, intelligence and security agencies, may indicate that the battery energy storage systems (BESS) planned as part of the Sunnica Energy Farm “present an obvious target for sabotage and arson”.
The discovery of potential Russian involvement follows on from his comments made in a Westminster Hall debate in November regarding the security risk posed to air bases and local residents by BESS. At the time, he noted that “MI5 said we now face state-backed sabotage and should expect to see Russian acts of aggression here at home.” Directly quoting the Director-General, he observed that “they are on a sustained mission […] we’ve seen arson, sabotage and more.”
Mr Timothy has requested that the Secretary of State for Defence “make(s) as much information public” as possible relating to what is now known about the incident, writing that “an investigation by The i tracked the movement of three individuals with apparent links to the Kremlin, two of whom reportedly worked as fruit pickers. According to the investigation, one of the individuals, who was only yards away from the perimeter of RAF Mildenhall during the drone incursions, has regularly appeared in the Russian embassy in Berlin. Another, who visited remote areas around RAF Mildenhall several times, had previously been to the largest Russian military facility in Tajikistan, and returned there following the drone activity.
Commenting, Nick Timothy MP said:
“This is obviously concerning for local residents. While I understand the need for discretion with issues of national security, I also believe it is important to be as transparent as possible. I am therefore writing to ask you to make as much information public as is sensible, and to request a further private briefing from your team.
“I should also take the opportunity to reiterate my concern that Russian interest in the bases, and the hybrid methods favoured by the Russian military and security and intelligence agencies, mean that the battery energy storage systems proposed as part of the Sunnica solar and battery farm, located next to RAF Mildenhall, present an obvious target for sabotage and arson. I ask you to investigate this risk and intervene quickly before construction on the project begins.”
