Britain's most senior military commander has delivered an exceptionally stark warning, stating the nation's "sons and daughters" must be ready to fight as the threat from an increasingly powerful and aggressive Russia grows.
A 'Sombre Reality Check' on the Russian Threat
In a blunt public intervention, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, cautioned that Russia's military strength is not only expanding but is now battle-hardened after nearly four years of full-scale war in Ukraine. He described the current global situation as "more dangerous than I have known during my career" and stated that "the price of peace is rising."
Speaking on Monday 15 December 2025, Sir Richard emphasised that while the UK's armed forces and NATO remain the first line of defence, a much broader societal effort is required to rebuild national resilience. He stressed the importance of honesty with "families and households" across the country about preparing for a spectrum of tangible threats.
Russia's Growing 'Hard Power' and Intent
The defence chief presented a detailed and concerning assessment of Russian capabilities. He revealed that despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia's "hard power is growing quickly." Its armed forces now number over 1.1 million personnel, with defence spending consuming more than 7% of GDP and roughly 40% of all government expenditure—a sum that has more than doubled in the past decade.
Sir Richard warned against complacency, noting Russia is developing destabilising new weapons systems, including nuclear-armed torpedoes, nuclear-powered cruise missiles, and efforts to place nuclear weapons in space. "We should be under no illusions that Russia has a massive, increasingly technically sophisticated, and now, highly combat-experienced, military," he stated.
On the critical question of intent, he argued that Russia's actions in Ukraine and against neighbouring states demonstrate a desire to "challenge, limit, divide and ultimately destroy NATO." While he acknowledged defence analysts currently rate the chance of a direct Russian attack on the UK as a "remote" possibility of up to 5%, he firmly stated this "does not mean the chances are zero." The key, he insisted, is the worsening trend.
The Call for a 'Whole of Nation' Response
Contrasting the UK's posture with allies, Sir Richard pointed out that the British Army stands at just over 70,000 soldiers, with government spending committed to rise only to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. He highlighted that Germany plans to spend 3.5% by 2029 and Poland is already at 4.2%, with both France and Germany recently reintroducing forms of national service.
His central argument called for a fundamental shift in national mindset. "Our response needs to go beyond simply strengthening our armed forces," he said. "It needs a whole of nation response that builds our defence industrial capacity, grows the skills we need, harnesses the power of the institutions we will need in wartime and ensures and increases the resilience of society."
He explicitly stated that "sons and daughters, colleagues, veterans… will all have a role to play. To build. To serve. And if necessary, to fight." This echoes recent comments by his French counterpart, General Fabien Mandon, on preparing for potential sacrifice.
Sir Richard concluded that raising public awareness is essential, citing Sky News' 'The Wargame' podcast as an example of stimulating crucial conversation. He warned that without this broader societal engagement, the UK cannot expect the necessary action or commitment of resources from government, industry, and the public to meet the escalating threat.
