Fiona Hill, former director for European and Russian affairs at the US National Security Council and co-author of the UK’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review, warned that the UK is failing to prepare adequately for hybrid warfare from Russia, a situation characterized by cyberattacks, sabotage, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Citing the recent spike in Russian surveillance of strategic undersea communications cables and gas pipelines by naval intelligence units specializing in deep sea operations, she emphasized the UK lacks digitized maps, analogue backup systems, and a unified national crisis resilience plan. Hill also pointed to the absence of devolved local government authority for emergency management, contrasting UK preparedness unfavorably with Ukraine’s coordinated civil-military response in cities like Kharkiv. Lord Robertson and other experts called out political complacency and insufficient defense spending, despite the UK facing a high threat from Russia’s hybrid tactics involving drones and missile strikes. The Ministry of Defence stated the UK is investing £1 billion in improving air and missile defense and leveraging NATO’s collective defense systems. The article details broader concerns over infrastructure vulnerabilities and the nation's readiness to handle a kinetic war on the European mainland, underlining an urgent need for national debate and enhanced resilience.

Fiona Hill, former director for European and Russian affairs at the US National Security Council and co-author of the UK’s 2025 Strategic Defence Review, warned that the UK is failing to prepare adequately for hybrid warfare from Russia, a situation characterized by cyberattacks, sabotage, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Citing the recent spike in Russian surveillance of strategic undersea communications cables and gas pipelines by naval intelligence units specializing in deep sea operations, she emphasized the UK lacks digitized maps, analogue backup systems, and a unified national crisis resilience plan. Hill also pointed to the absence of devolved local government authority for emergency management, contrasting UK preparedness unfavorably with Ukraine’s coordinated civil-military response in cities like Kharkiv. Lord Robertson and other experts called out political complacency and insufficient defense spending, despite the UK facing a high threat from Russia’s hybrid tactics involving drones and missile strikes. The Ministry of Defence stated the UK is investing £1 billion in improving air and missile defense and leveraging NATO’s collective defense systems. The article details broader concerns over infrastructure vulnerabilities and the nation's readiness to handle a kinetic war on the European mainland, underlining an urgent need for national debate and enhanced resilience.