In a striking revelation, The Telegraph published an article by British defence analyst Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, warning that the UK must now seriously prepare for the possibility of a nuclear strike from Russia—a scenario he describes as “one the country must begin preparing for immediately.”
The article coincides with the UK’s latest Strategic Defence Review, which reportedly includes new directives for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and National Health Service (NHS) to prepare for a potential nuclear attack. The plan emphasises building military readiness to fight and survive in a radiation-contaminated environment—a development that has raised concern among civil and political circles.
Putin’s Nuclear Threats Taken Seriously
According to de Bretton-Gordon, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently told former U.S. President Donald Trump that he would retaliate harshly against Ukraine for the destruction of Russian nuclear-capable bombers—an act Putin appears to interpret as crossing a red line.
This statement, paired with Russia’s repeated nuclear threats against both London and Kyiv, has reignited fears that Moscow might follow through on its previous warnings.
“We must take the Kremlin’s nuclear rhetoric seriously,” wrote de Bretton-Gordon, especially given Russia’s extensive use of chemical weapons in Ukraine and the rising possibility of a tactical nuclear strike, either on Ukraine or potentially even against Britain itself.
F-35A Jets and the Strategy of Deterrence
The article highlights a key strategic shift: the UK’s acquisition of U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets equipped with tactical nuclear weapons, which is viewed by some analysts as a credible deterrent to any potential Russian tactical strike.
However, deterrence alone is not enough, says the author. He insists that Britain must now adopt a Cold War-style survival posture, focusing not only on deterrence but on post-strike resilience.
“The UK must once again prepare, as it did during the Cold War, to function and survive after any nuclear or chemical attack,” he writes.
To this end, government agencies have already received instructions to stockpile protective gear, with the new strategy placing localised military production of such equipment at the centre of national defence planning.
Key British Defence Contractors Mobilised
The article also names Avon Protection, a UK-based company that is the global leader in gas mask manufacturing, supplying not only Britain and the United States but also most NATO countries—and now, notably, the Ukrainian military.
Another firm, Kromek PLC, was highlighted as a world leader in radiation detection and monitoring technologies.
“These two companies,” writes de Bretton-Gordon, “will play a crucial role in ensuring the UK’s preparedness and resilience, while helping to deter Russian aggression and reassure the British public.”
Contextual Commentary for SunnaFiles Readers
While the article’s tone reflects classic Western military anxieties, particularly in light of the Russia–Ukraine war, it also exposes a deeper reality: Western powers—especially the UK—are normalising nuclear war planning, while frequently criticising or demonising non-Western nations for even peaceful nuclear development.
Iran, for example, has faced years of economic warfare and sabotage simply for enriching uranium within its legal rights as a sovereign nation. Meanwhile, Britain not only maintains a nuclear arsenal but publicly prepares its population for potential use of nuclear force, with little international outcry.
The West’s silence on Ukrainian use of banned weapons, and its direct arming of neo-fascist units, stands in sharp contrast to its inflammatory rhetoric about “global peace” and “international law” when speaking of Iran, Gaza, or the Muslim world.
This article, while focused on Britain’s internal security strategy, reveals the selective lens of Western geopolitical morality—one that increasingly prepares for war while preaching peace.
