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British security chiefs fear Russian spooks are planning a massive cyber attack against the UK, the Mirror has learned.

Cyber warfare specialists at Britain’s listening station GCHQ and in the military are on high-alert for a Putin-sponsored 'catastrophic' assault on the UK’s infrastructure.

Amid growing tension between Moscow and London over the Russia’s deadly nerve agent attack, a key target for Putin’s web saboteurs is our energy supplies.

Sources have told the Daily Mirror another target for Russia’s hacking experts within a ruthless military intelligence unit called the GRU is the Bank of England.

(Image: AFP)

Spies would aim at costing Britain many millions in damage or banking chaos, widespread panic and huge disruption that could take years to unravel.

A senior source told the Daily Mirror: “With tensions and aggression between the UK and Russia running so high at the moment Putin wants to capitalise on recent successes.

“Everyone is pointing the finger at Moscow for the Novichok incident but Putin will believe there is almost nothing the UK can do about it except name the spies behind it.

“That will not matter to them or Putin. But they will want to step up the pressure on the UK, cost us a great deal of money and cause as much disruption as possible.

“Energy and finance are the biggest targets as it could hit us hard and our security systems guarding against cyber attacks are pretty vulnerable.

(Image: REUTERS)

“A glitch in our energy supplies could result in catastrophic failures in our cities, affecting security and the economy - the same goes for hitting the Bank of England.

In recent months there has been a massive spike in Russian-backed cyber attacks all along the Baltic borders with Putin’s country, coupled with similar aggression in Scandinavian countries.

Senior spooks at Britain’s GCHQ listening station and within secretive British military intelligence cyber units are on high alert to combat an attack or minimise its damage.

Our security source told the Daily Mirror: “Both GCHQ and the British military have units that are more than capable of taking an offensive stance against Russia.

“If there is a huge attack, an offensive reaction would be extremely likely and could escalate tensions between east and west even further.

(Image: Collect Unknown)

“Far from being the height of the activity between Russia and Britain the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter and the subsequent death of Dawn Sturgess could be just the beginning.”

Former GRU Russian spy Andre Skripal and his daughter were both poisoned with Russian-made Novichok nerve agent in March.

It is believed they were victims of a hit by the GRU in revenge for former Moscow spy Skripal’s treachery as a double-agent working for MI6.

Skripal’s safety was further compromised by the fact that he is a former GRU Colonel and well-accomplished accoplished spy who had been in the field.

(Image: Reuters)

This would grate with Putin, who achieved a KGB rank one below Skripal’s and was only ever a desk officer.

Both the Skripals are still in recovery after fighting for their lives for weeks in hospital but subsequently locals

Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley were also poisoned after finding a bottle of Novichok.

Both were rushed to hospital but sadly Dawn died. Charlie was released from hospital on Friday .

(Image: Getty)

British counter terror police officers and MI5 believe they have identified the assassination team, which is believed to have fled back to Russia.

Now, emboldened by overt and fawning support from President Trump, a lack of political will for further sanctions from the EU against Russia and Britain’s isolation in Europe because it is leaving the union, Putin is thought to be planning further aggression against the UK.