Britain’s armed forces stand ready to confront Russia “tonight” if President Vladimir Putin extends his aggression into another Eastern European country, a senior UK military official has affirmed.
The remarks come in the wake of Putin’s bold declaration about Russia’s latest hypersonic ballistic missile capabilities, heightening tensions in the region.
On Friday, Putin announced that Russia will continue testing its hypersonic ballistic missile, dubbed “Oreshnik,” which was reportedly fired at Ukraine’s Dnipro region a day earlier. Speaking during a televised meeting with Russia’s defense ministry leadership, the Russian president claimed the missile is impervious to any existing air defense systems worldwide.
“There are currently no means of countering such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world,” Putin asserted.
He further revealed plans for the missile system’s serial production and the development of additional medium- and shorter-range systems, emphasizing that Russia is forging ahead with multiple advanced weapon platforms.
Putin’s comments followed the Thursday missile strike, which Kyiv initially identified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). However, Western officials later clarified that it was an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying multiple warheads—possibly marking the first use of such a weapon in warfare.
In response to Russia’s military posturing, Rob Magowan, Deputy Chief of the UK Defense Staff, delivered a resolute statement during a parliamentary defense committee meeting.
“If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight,” Magowan declared. “And I don’t think anybody in this room should be under any illusion: if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, we would meet them in that fight.”
These developments underscore the escalating stakes in the ongoing conflict and the readiness of NATO allies to counter any broader Russian aggression. The situation continues to evolve, with global attention focused on the delicate balance of military power in Eastern Europe.
About The Author
