Ben Wallace criticises Russian ‘dirty tricks’ as he reveals ’lookalike’ imposter phoned him pretending to be Ukrainian PM

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace revealed on Thursday how a “lookalike’” imposter phoned him pretending to be the Ukrainian Prime Minister.

He told how he ended the call after becoming suspicious about some of the questions.

The Standard understands that the call was through a faked embassy account, with a “lookalike Prime Minister”, and a formal office background.

However, Mr Wallace and officials swiftly became suspicious and ended the call which was not to his personal phone.

The Defence Secretary is not believed to have made any worrying remarks in the call, which lasted around 10 minutes.

But concerns remain that these imposter methods could be used to undermine the West’s unity in response to Vladimir Putin’s ”barbaric” invasion of Ukraine.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she had also been targeted by a call from an impostor earlier this week.

“This also happened to me earlier this week,” she said.

“Pathetic attempt at such difficult times to divide us. We stand with Ukraine.”

The imposter is understood to have asked Mr Wallace a number of leading questions including on the peace talks and Nato.

He is not believed to have made any inappropriate comments, stressing the importance of international treaties.

Arrangements for the audio/visual call are thought to have come through another department.

The defence secretary ordered an immediate inquiry, which will take place cross-Whitehall.

The probe will include a technical analysis of correspondence to try to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in future.

Mr Wallace tweeted: “Today an attempt was made by an imposter claiming to be Ukrainian PM to speak with me.

“He posed several misleading questions and after becoming suspicious I terminated the call.”

Mr Wallace, who is seen to have performed well as Defence Secretary during the conflict, added: “No amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks can distract from Russia’s human rights abuses and illegal invasion of Ukraine. A desperate attempt.”

The current prime minister of Ukraine is Denys Shmyhal who is the head of government.

He was appointed by President Volodymyr Zelensky who is the head of state.

Mr Wallace’s tweet comes after he announced on Thursday that Britain would be deploying a missile defence system to Poland to deter Russian attacks.

During a visit to the Polish capital Warsaw, he said the UK is sending the Sky Sabre medium-range anti-air missile system to Poland with about 100 personnel.

He stressed the move is “to make sure that we stand alongside Poland in protecting her airspace from any further aggression from Russia”.

Mr Wallace added: “As a Nato ally and a very old ally, it is very right that Britain stands by Poland as Poland carries much of the burden of the consequence of this war and stands tall and brave to stand up to the threats from Russia.”

The decision comes days after Russian missiles struck a military base in Yavoriv, Ukraine, just a few miles from the border with Poland.

At least 35 people were said to have been killed, including reportedly three British ex-special forces members.

The British missile deployment comes as nearly two million of the more than three million refugees to flee Ukraine have arrived in Poland.

The UK has already sent hundreds of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine which have been used by its troops to destroy Russian convoys.

Mr Zelensky has appealed for more help to defend the skies above his country however Nato has rejected his request to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, amid fears that it could spark a wider European war.

Russia’s forces have so far failed to gain control of the skies over the war zone, hampering the advance of its ground troops.

Poland offered to fly its fleet of Soviet-designed MiG 29 aircraft to a US air base in Germany so they could be forwarded to the Ukrainian air force, with America then supplying Poland with replacement fighter jets.

But Washington rejected the proposal amid fears it would be seen as a Nato move which could have sent the conflict spiralling.