EXCLUSIVE: Russia 'testing the water' with sinister WW3 tactics to 'send message to UK'Eliza Manningham-Buller, former head of MI5, recently suggested that those who believe the UK is already at war with Russia "may be right" after a series of sinister incidentsView 3 Images Vladimir Putin is "testing the waters", according to an expertAn expert has warned that Russia is "testing the water" with a range of terrifying war strategies in an attempt to send a message to the UK and NATO. ‌The ex-chief of MI5, Eliza Manningham-Buller, has recently suggested that those who think the UK is already embroiled in a conflict with Russia "may be right". ‌She admitted that it was a fair assessment to say "Russia is at war with us". Professor Natasha Lindstaedt, from the University of Essex, believes that Russia is "testing the water" with the UK and NATO through its use of "hybrid war tactics." Professor Lindstaedt acknowledged that although Russia is angry that it is "unable" to triumph in a conventional conflict, its objective is to "send a message" to the UK and NATO.