The UK Cabinet Office has been instructed to accelerate planning for the home defence programme, according to reports. The initiative aims to integrate civilian and military planning for crises and follows Russia's threats of action against the UK for supporting Ukraine in the conflict that has now lasted more than four years.
War book and public guidance
The initiative encompasses plans for the "war book", the classified blueprint for transitioning the country during crisis and conflict, The Telegraph reports. It comes alongside reports that Britons will soon receive guidance on how to prepare themselves for either extreme weather events or missile attacks, with the government looking to educate the public on potential threats from hostile states.
Instructions issued to the public will reportedly include stockpiling food and bottled water.
Deadline brought forward
The Telegraph reported that sources indicated certain elements of the homeland defence plans have been brought forward from a previous deadline of 2035 to 2030. "We do need to accelerate preparedness in a range of threat areas, which means in the next few years, not the next decade," a source said.
Sir Keir Starmer said earlier this year that Moscow could launch an attack "on NATO as soon as 2030". Assessments by intelligence agencies and secretary general Mark Rutte share a similar outlook.
Russia's warnings and response
Russia cautioned Britain earlier this month that it would pay a "price" following reports that the UK had supplied drones to Ukraine that had been deployed in strikes deep inside Russia. Russia's embassy in London accused Britain of becoming "an accomplice and co-perpetrator" of the attacks and of "deliberately opting for an escalation" in the conflict.
The Ministry of Defence responded: "Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin's illegal invasion. Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies."
Grey zone threats and public campaign
A former senior Russian official issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the possibility of a "semi-military" response targeting British drone factories that are supporting Ukraine. Security and defence chiefs have raised concerns over so-called "grey zone" attacks, which fall somewhere between peace and outright warfare, including cyber attacks on critical infrastructure.
Britain has already fallen victim to such an attack, when Iran successfully shut down a British power station for four days, demonstrating that access to sensitive sites is entirely feasible. In response to the growing threat, officials are planning to launch a public information campaign on "national resilience" this autumn, offering guidance on stockpiling food, water and candles.
One source warned: "We need to be ready for threats to become more possible by 2030."
