The UK’s military is prepared to defend Eastern Europe against Russia “tonight” if necessary, according to a senior British officer.
This warning comes just after Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a new missile that he claims cannot be intercepted by any air defense system in the world.
Putin’s remarks were made during a televised meeting with Russia’s defense officials on Friday, where he discussed the hypersonic missile called “Oreshnik,” which Russia tested on Thursday.
He emphasized that this missile, which Russia fired at Ukraine, is beyond the reach of any global defense system.
Putin said, “There are currently no means of countering such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world,” and he revealed that Russia would continue testing and producing these weapons.
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The missile, which reportedly carries multiple warheads, was launched at Ukraine’s Dnipro region.
Initially, Kyiv accused Russia of using an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but Western officials later confirmed it was an experimental intermediate-range missile.
The missile’s multi-warhead feature may mark the first time such a weapon has been used in war.
In response, Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defense staff, told a defense committee that Britain’s military is ready to act swiftly if the situation escalates.
He said, “If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight.
And I don’t think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.”