London Vulnerable to Russian Missile Strikes, Warns Former Defence Minister

London Vulnerable to Russian Missile Strikes, Warns Former Defence Minister

Tobias Ellwood, a former defence minister and chairman of the parliamentary defence committee, has issued a stark warning about the vulnerability of London and other critical infrastructure to Russian missile strikes. He claims that President Putin's missile technology has significantly modernized since he was last in government, and that Moscow's fighter jets are acting with increasing aggression, making an attack more likely.

Ellwood highlights the speed and range of Russia's latest generation of long-range missiles, capable of reaching the UK in just 30 minutes from their Urals base. He argues that Britain's Quick Reaction Alert operation, involving RAF Typhoons intercepting incoming missiles, would be insufficient to defend against such an attack.

"London is now vulnerable, as is every other city in the UK along with critical infrastructure such as airports and nuclear power stations," Ellwood warns.

His concerns are echoed by experts who point to the vulnerability of Britain's network of subsea cables, crucial for maintaining power and internet connectivity. These cables could be susceptible to covert Russian attacks, similar to the suspected sabotage of underwater interconnectors between Finland and Estonia.

Emma Salisbury, an associate fellow at the London-based Council on Geostrategy, emphasizes the growing threat of "grey zone warfare" targeting critical infrastructure. She believes this type of attack could pose a significant threat to the UK, given the importance of subsea cables and other infrastructure for its energy needs.

These warnings come amidst heightened tensions between the West and Russia, fueled by Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine and threats against its allies. The UK government has been preparing for a potential attack, participating in a joint defence operation led by the Joint Expeditionary Force.