Cabinet minister gets hoax call from imposter pretending to be Ukrainian PM

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was targeted by a hoax caller posing as the Ukrainian prime minister.

He has hit out at Russian “dirty tricks” saying that nothing could distract him from the campaign of human rights abuse being carried out in Ukraine.

Mr Wallace said he became suspicious and terminated the call after “several misleading questions”.

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The Defence Secretary has ordered an immediate inquiry to find out how the impostor was able to speak to him.

He said it was a “desperate attempt” but “no amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks” could distract from the human rights abuses carried out during the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s forces.

Mr Wallace revealed he had been targeted by the hoax call in a Twitter post.

The fact that a hoax caller was able to speak directly to the Defence Secretary raises security questions, particularly given Mr Wallace’s suggestion that Russia was behind it.

He said: “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.

“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.”