Page 20 - Rob Bauer News Today

General Sir Richard Shirreff said mandatory call-ups for military service were absolute anathema to professional soldiers - but said Britain had to be ready for the worst-case scenario against Russia.

The genie was freed. The private fears of many senior members of the armed forces were out there. How will a divided Scotland respond?

A senior general has warned Britons to prepare to take up arms against Russia. He’s not alone in raising the alarm, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

Many Netherlands residents are worried about a war between Russia and NATO. Two-thirds (62 percent) worry that Russia will attack the Netherlands. Many are considering, or already working on, putting an “emergency kit” together should the worst happen, RTL Nieuws reports after surveying 20,000 members of its opinion panel.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that the Russian side "has no plans to attack NATO countries"

This week, NATO launched its largest military exercise since the Cold War. The military drills are taking place across Germany, Poland and the Baltics and will continue through May. European officials and military leaders have warned that if Russia’s military isn’t stopped in Ukraine, a NATO country could be targeted next.

UK troops have trained some 30,000 Ukrainians, including civilians, on British soil under Operation Interflex, the multinational support mission backing Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

SIR – Sir Simon Clarke thinks that changing the leadership of the Conservative Party yet again could result in an election victory (“Rishi Sunak has gone from asset to anchor for the Tories”, Commentary, January 15). If there is some miraculous saviour waiting in the wings to salvage this tumultuous group of people and instil some sense of loyalty, trustworthiness and ability to govern in them, that person is well and truly hidden.

With Ukraine desperately battling to bolster its defences against an impending Russian winter offensive, and Israeli forces struggling to make headway against fanatical Hamas terrorists in Gaza, Western resolve understandably finds itself under intense scrutiny.

A large number of civilians would have to be called up if conflict accelerates in Europe, he says.