National security expert Mark Toth and former US intelligence officer Col. Jonathan Sweet explained how a hostilities are brewing and where this could lead going forwards.
Speaking to MailOnline, they explained how hybrid wars are already being waged by Russia to undermine the West.
On the question of whether the UK is already in a World War, they concluded: “It’s already a World War, only largely contained to the borders of Ukraine – until August when Ukraine invaded Kursk.”
Moscow is using disinformation, cyberattacks, and economic manipulation, they added.
The experts also point to Russia‘s activities abroad, in places such as Africa, to support their argument.
The experts said: “Putin’s ability to conduct hybrid warfare is arguably his greatest strength.
“To fully understand the scope of Russia‘s vast disinformation campaign, just look at the US, UK, and Africa.
“Russian troll and bot farms use memes and fake fact-check accounts to demonise the West and distract from Russian paramilitaries overthrowing democracies.
“Russian troll and bot farms have infiltrated online spaces with cartoons, memes, and fake fact-check accounts to disseminate discord and erode confidence in Western governments.”
But clearly, hot wars like the one in Ukraine pose the biggest immediate threat.
Mr Toth and Col. Sweet said: “Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was the opening stage (of World War Three). It was his marker to the global community that the world order as it had existed since the end of the Second World War was no longer.
“Russia continues to play the victim while escalating against Ukrainian civilians.”