PARIS, November 29. /TASS/. Employees of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, take part in covert operations aimed at helping Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, the agency’s chief Richard Moore said.

"After the war [World War II], the SOE (the Special Operations Executive - TASS) was merged into SIS [the Secret Intelligence Service], and we cherish our heritage of covert action which we keep alive today in helping Ukraine resist the Russian invasion," Moore said in a speech at the British Embassy in Paris.

According to him, the cost of supporting Kiev was "well known." "But the cost of not doing so would be infinitely higher," the MI6 chief opined. He also said that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, the West will face increased threats from China, Iran and North Korea.

Moore also noted that Iran's "nuclear ambitions" pose a threat to international and regional stability. He added that Tehran-backed armed groups in the Middle East have "suffered serious blows" as a result of conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Discussing relations with China, the MI6 chief pointed out that London and Beijing compete in a number of areas and their values "often do not align." "We play our part in MI6, keeping lines of communication open with our Chinese counterparts," he emphasized.