LONDON: Britain’s Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has accused Russia of spying on its critical infrastructure as part of possible plans to create “total chaos” in the country that could “cause thousands and thousands of deaths”, reports AFP.

In unusually alarmist words from a senior minister Williamson told the Daily Telegraph that, in its research on UK power supply connections with Europe, Moscow appeared intent on sowing “panic” and hurting Britain.

“What they are looking at doing is they are going to be thinking ‘how can we just cause so much pain to Britain?’” he said in comments published Thursday night.

“Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country.”