Three simultaneous announcements across the world this week brought to life a fascinating Russian story

A mysterious invitation to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, followed by briefings at the Foreign Office, the Cabinet Office and an announcement due at The Hague – what was going on?

In an embargoed report from the British government, which we were allowed to publish at midnight overnight on Wednesday, the National Cyber Security Centre unveiled information it said proved that Russia was behind an international online war – targeting elections, metro systems, banks and anti-doping bodies.

And while those allegations – which directed the blame specifically at the Russian military intelligence body, the GRU, also allegedly behind the failed assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal – were explosive and serious enough, more was yet to come.

As I checked in with our Moscow correspondent, Oliver Carroll, on Thursday morning, he said he had received a mysterious invitation to the Ministry of Defence. No details were given, other than to “dress smartly” and turn up an hour and a half before the briefing was due to start. Putin himself might be appearing, we surmised.