Brits are being urged to stockpile oats, sardines, and crisps in case of a Russian cyber-attack by Vladimir Putin. Downing Street is set to launch a campaign to prepare households for emergencies following Sir Keir Starmer’s warning that intelligence agencies believe an attack by Russia could come within four years.
Government Campaign Details
The public will be told to stock up on food and water in case the Russian dictator launches a surprise assault on Britain under new plans to ready the country for conflict. Boffins reckon likely particulars to be included on the emergency stockpile list include long-life items that can be eaten without cooking such as tinned beans, vegetables and fish, rice crackers and oats that can be soaked.
Under siege Brits are also advised to stock up on treats such as chocolate and crisps to keep spirits up as well as plenty of water for drinking as well as washing. A similar plan in Sweden asks punters to prepare warm clothing and a battery-powered radio for use in case of power outages. In Norway, the public are being advised to stock up on iodine tablets which can be used in the event of a nuclear incident, as German homeowners have been urged to turn their cellars into bunkers.
EU and International Preparedness
Last year, the EU instructed the public to prepare a 72-hour stockpile, including ID documents in waterproof casing, canned food, bottled water, matches and a Swiss army knife. The new British public information campaign – set to be launched by ministers later this year – as well as preparing for emergencies will advise people on stockpiling food, medicines and basic survival tools.
The drive comes amid rising fears of a Russian attack on a Nato country and near-constant cyber-attacks on the UK’s critical national infrastructure. Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, announced that the Government would also wargame a “hybrid” attack on the UK by a foreign adversary next year. The “national home defence exercise” will see hundreds of civil servants plan their response to a crisis from inside Whitehall.
Official Statements
Mr Jones told MPs the Government would launch a “national resilience public awareness campaign” to “inform the public of the small but important steps they can take to be prepared in case of emergencies and disruption.” The potential crises for which the public should prepare include a cyber-attack which can “impact access to power, water, phone signal or local shops to get food,” he added. Officials said the campaign would include new guidance to schools and colleges to teach children about how to stay safe in emergencies.
Strategic Defence Review Warnings
The announcement comes after warnings in last year’s Strategic Defence Review that the UK was “already under daily attack from espionage, cyber threats and information manipulation” by enemy states, including Russia and Iran. The review, commissioned shortly after Labour entered office, warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had demonstrated “willingness to use military force, inflict harm on civilians, and threaten the use of nuclear weapons.”
Ministers have also updated the National Risk Register, a public document outlining the “reasonable worst-case scenarios” from a range of threats. The latest version of the document includes the threat of foreign interference in the UK’s democracy for the first time, plus the risk of cyber-attacks on data infrastructure, water sites, and police systems.
