An order to halt US offensive cyber operations against Russia will spell “open season” for Vladimir Putin to ramp up disinformation campaigns in order to divide Europe, experts warned last night. US defence secretary Pete Hegseth is said to have issued the order to US Cyber Command as part of a broader effort to draw Putin into talks on Ukraine and a new relationship with the United States.

       But this gambles on the Russian premier reciprocating, and does not define the meaning of “offensive”. Last night cyber experts expressed fears it would go beyond not launching information campaign in Russia to not countering Russian disinformation campaigns in Europe, just at a moment when European unity was more vital than ever before

       “The question is what does the word 'offensive' actually mean“ said cyber expert Dr Ian Batten of Birmingham University.

       “You could say that defensive simply means firewalls and antivirus software. And I don't think anyone rationally suggests that that would cease in any way.

       ‘So this leaves anything proactive, such as defending against disinformation with a counter narrative, in the crosshair of the new directive. “

       He added “Russian disinformation is already prolific. We believe it played a role in last summer’s riots, for instance.

       “Now Europe is experiencing a new unity of purpose when it comes to supporting Ukraine, and I would expect Russia to step up attempts to undermine this unity using disinformation campaigns.”

       US Cyber Command plays a key role with tGCHQ and the UK’s Strategic Command in both holding Russia propaganda campaigns at bay and country them, and the absence of US in？put will leave a glaring gap？, driving agencies such as the National Security Cyber Centre into overtime as they try to fill it.

       Other operations could be affected too,

       Over the past 12 months there has been an accurate of Russian directed or Russian inspired sabotage efforts in Europe, including attempts to cut communications cables and assassination plots such as the one against the chief executive of Germany’s largest arms maker

       The US has been central in helping European nations fight back, often in covert cyber operations. This has ended.

       “The US is Europe’s biggest provider of intelligence and anti-disinformation capability, and it is now stepping back in the hope that Russia will reciprocate in ？equal fashion,” said Hans Horan, senior geopolitical risk analyst at the Netherlands- based Proximities strategic risk group.

       “This leaves Europe in a very tricky situation because there is no real incentive for Russia, which is already working hard to sow divisions and cause distrust amongst European partners, to stop.

       “Rather, we can realistically expect Putin to see this as fertile ground for an intense growth in Russian information operations. It’s going to be open season.”

       He said Russia would being by targeting grassroots, with disinformation casting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a negative light and urging that he steps down

       “We have already seen an uptick in criticisms of Zelensky ？following his Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vance, suggesting that Zelensky is the cause of the war,’ he added.

       “Much of this narrative seems to be coming from Trump supporters in the US, but is in fact the work of Russian bots who look like they’re in the US, but aren’t.

       “This is what we are going to have to deal with now.”

       The NCSC was contacted, but did not wish to comment.