Russia ‘combat ready’ while top general warns UK must prepare for attack

Russia has warned that it is ‘combat ready’ after secretly inspecting the country’s nuclear test site in the Arctic.

It has led to fears that Vladimir Putin is preparing to resume nuclear testing at the site for the first time since 1990.

Andrey Gurulev, a Russian military general, visited the site at Novaya Zemlya archipelago and said: ‘You know, there’s a lot of fascinating stuff I could say about the test site – but sadly, I cannot.

‘The only thing I can say is – we’re fully combat ready.’

Professor Stephen Hall said recent events may explain Russia’s actions at the Arctic site.

‘Russia needs to prove that it still has a nuclear arsenal, particularly following Ukraine’s drone strike,’ he told Metro.

‘Putin needs to prove he is battle ready because in his eyes Russia is already at war with the West.’

The West has also ramped up its rhetoric, with ex-military chief Sir Richard Barrons saying everybody in the UK must prepare for missile attacks.

He said this could be achieved through a ‘national defence plan’ which could include air raid drills with sirens tested.

Barrons told The i Paper that ‘families and communities’ across the country, and leaders of public services and major companies need to learn to cope in a war environment.

‘There is a clear, present risk – particularly as president Putin does see himself as being at war with the West,’ he warned.

‘The homeland is again on the pitch – it’s not got some magic immunity from war, in the same way that Kyiv doesn’t… Air and missile attacks will cause civilian casualties in potentially very large numbers.’

He also said that the UK could learn from countries, like Finland and Sweden, which have developed plans for ‘total defence’.

‘These are comprehensive models where the entire population feels part of the defence effort. The UK is just not anywhere near that,’ he added.

Barrons co-wrote the government’s strategic defence review – which recommended sweeping changes including a focus on new technology and reaching 3% GDP defence spending.

Presenting the review, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘We will never gamble with our national security’.

One of the recommendations from the defence review was that the British Army will ‘increase lethality’ over the next decade.

But Professor Hall pointed out some flaws in Barrons argument of preparing the UK for missile attacks.

‘We should prepare for missile attacks but this is somewhat difficult for the UK to do,’ he said.

‘We are such a tiny island that one nuclear missile could wipe out the entirety of the country – that’s the problem.

‘Whereas Finland is geographically bigger and less densely populated, it’s had years of experience preparing itself for a nuclear attack.’

One way the UK is preparing is by sending military officials to Finland to support the country as it faces a build up of Russian troops on its eastern border.

Finland’s military intelligence has said it expects there to be as many as 50,000 new Russian soldiers to be stationed at the border.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said UK military officials would work with both Finland and Sweden to ‘strengthen the alliance’s deterrence posture on the eastern flank’.

Professor Hall welcomed any support that the UK could give to its Nato allies in the face of Russian aggression.

‘It is productive that the UK does this,’ he said.

‘Any sign of support and unity that the UK and Nato can show against the Kremlin is important.

‘It sends a signal to Putin that we are ready in the face of aggression.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.