Someone posing as Ukraine’s PM video called the Defence Secretary -11 resounding facepalms
Ben Wallace is the Secretary of State for Defence, and the UK is currently engaged in trying to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion, under threat or promise by Vladimir Putin that Russia will attack any vehicles carrying weapons to the besieged state.
It was, therefore, quite concerning to read a pair of tweets posted by Wallace on Thursday, which read –
Usually ‘an attempt was made’ implies failure, but the fake PM got through for at least several questions.
What made it all the more bizarre was the news that it was a video call.
NEW: An imposter posing as Ukraine’s prime minister tricked his way onto a video call with Britain’s defence secretary in a suspected Russian ploy. @BWallaceMP ordered an immediate inquiry into the security breach that saw him engage with the fraud for about 10 minutes 1/
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) March 17, 2022
The revelations set off alarm bells, which might have been more useful in the Whitehall security system.
1.
Was it Grant Shapps? https://t.co/bPFyQDrRnR
— THE SECRET TORY 🗽 (@secrettory12) March 17, 2022
2.
I've got a vision in my head of Putin trying to pretend to be Zelenskyy on the phone https://t.co/vKAf5IM5Um
— Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (@nadinebh_) March 17, 2022
3.
Hi everybody, today the department you rely on for defence in troubled times got punked-
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) March 17, 2022
4.
What's the bet this isn't Fancy Bear but some kid with a prank TikTok? https://t.co/n7CNghq66P
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) March 17, 2022
5.
“…it was when he said ‘Oooh Betty, the cat’s done a whoopsie’ followed by a Frank Bruno laugh that I knew something was up…” https://t.co/AratqpKiKt
— Mrs Gladys Steptoe (@GladysSteptoe) March 17, 2022
6.
Admitting this on Twitter is possibly the dumbest thing I have seen since Twitter was invented 👇🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ https://t.co/mdkTugtQ9Q
— Baker Street Herald: #I Stand With Ukraine (@bakerstherald) March 17, 2022
7.
"Earlier today a caller asked me if I had a First Edition copy of "Rusty Bedsprings" by I.P Freely" https://t.co/Bfr3ysa6Fz
— keewa (@keewa) March 17, 2022
8.
Well Ben, this isn’t the first time this has happened. A few years ago an imposter tried to become leader of the Conservative party. He made a few calls, did a few deals and did a few favours. He’s now in No 10 and still you lot don’t appear to have noticed what a charlatan he is
— Baron Cowpat of Turdshire (@Cowpat_No_9) March 17, 2022
9.
Ben Wallace fooled for 10 minutes due to the fraudster’s incredible attention to detail of… having a Ukrainian flag. https://t.co/ae6RwwIPDJ
— Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) March 17, 2022
10.
Could you hear Lord Lebedev of Siberia laughing in the background?
— j (@julesontheearth) March 17, 2022
11.
Jesus Christ we've got Moe Szyslak in charge of our defence https://t.co/ZDQUZR1kno pic.twitter.com/525H4L2qAh
— Eugene (@eugeneh84) March 17, 2022
The very savvy Nick Tolhurst had this assessment.
This means the UK govt expects the tape to be released publicly.
👇👇👇 https://t.co/elhy28Rwoy— Nick🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇦 (@nicktolhurst) March 17, 2022
Let’s hope we don’t all get to see Ben Wallace discussing his first pet and his mother’s maiden name.
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Source Ben Wallace Image Screengrab
