The threats of World War Three continue to intensify. And, in case the worst was to happen, here’s a look at just how things may play out in Britain
Fears are ramping up that World War Three could be imminently on the cards as things took a turn for the worst between Russia and Ukraine.
The war continues to intensify between the two nations, with some experts warning that Russia is becoming increasingly “reckless” in its hits, as the war chiefs grow frustrated as they are struggling to make significant advances.
Speaking to reporters alongside Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša at the alliance HQ in Brussels on Monday, Secretary General Mark Rutte, said that Russia is now targeting civilian infrastructure close to NATO territory. He said it shows how “desperate” Putin has become.
He added: “Russia is struggling in Ukraine and continues to lash out with reckless and dangerous attacks.”
Threats are also escalating against Britain as part of its campaign against the West.
When asked recently whether Moscow might strike military facilities in the UK in response to British arms supplies to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with one short sentence. He said: “That’s a secret. A military secret.”
So if the worst happens, how will it unfold in the UK? Here is what one war expert believes could happen.
Armed conflict
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and intelligence expert at the University of Buckingham, warned that the verbal threats could easily spill over into an armed conflict.
He previously told The Mirror that we are presently “fighting for our way of life” and must arm ourselves “as quickly as we can”.
The war expert believes that should war include the UK, any Western conflict would likely “follow the pattern of the Ukraine war” rather than a huge nuclear showdown.
He warned: “I believe the chances of an armed conflict between Russia and NATO in which we would be deeply embedded are now all too real. If the next war is a nuclear war, it will be up and running in hours and over in hours. There will be no winners, only losers.”
The professor believes Putin “will have become suicidal” and would “attack a number of key sites in the UK and continental Europe, almost certainly without warning and without an ultimatum”.
He warned: “There will be no time for anyone to do very much except prepare for deep impact extinction as best they can. However, if it is, as I believe, not going to be a nuclear war, then not only do things look very different, but it is entirely credible to argue it has already started.”
He said he believes WW3 would develop in three phases, beginning with Russian intimidation and sabotage.
Stage 1: Threats and subversion
The war expert believes this could come about if Putin believes he has won the Ukrainian war.
He believes he will begin exerting pressure on all NATO members who joined after 1997 in an “attempt to soften us up” and seek to divide the UK.
He cautioned that Putin is already trying to “subvert our democratic system and give political leverage to those who would support him”.
“His skill set is of the Soviet intelligence community, and their aim has always been to make threats, to subvert and to hollow out their potential enemies,” he added.
If his divide and conquer strategy fails, the professor believes Putin would move to stage two.
Stage 2: Putin targets NATO
This would involve armed units moving across Europe.
“Slowly, Russian forces would advance to the Pyrenees,” Prof Glees stated and it would turn into an attack with war times making a comeback to Britain.
This means fresh food supplies running out, petrol running out and carnage in the shops.
“We would run out of fresh food in days,” Prof Glees warned. “A massive Russian cyber attack on our critical national infrastructure would mean we can’t get cash out of our bank accounts, we cannot pay bills, we might not get electricity, gas, and – if Putin wanted – he could try to turn out the lights.”
Rationing of food and goods would follow a pattern reminiscent of World War II, with medicines also in short supply.
“Petrol and diesel would be virtually unobtainable for ordinary people. Medicines would quickly be subject to severe rationing and would soon disappear altogether,” he added.
“Although we would hope the EU would continue to supply us with food, we would have to rely on the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, especially if much of Western Europe were to fall under Russian control. We would quickly see a black market for home-produced food and clothing.”
Professor Glees paints a picture where we would “all be subject to a curfew to stop looting and nights would be dark to save electricity”, and he predicts there would be conscription.
“All adults between the ages of 18 and 40, male and single females, would be eligible to be drafted”, he declared.
Stage 3: A pro-Putin Government
Professor Glees predicts thay the warfare would only last one month, and if Russia won, would mean a complete change to the British way of life.
He says that within a month of conventional warfare, “a British Quisling Government would be established, probably under a well-known domestic politician known to be sympathetic to Putin”.
He said: “Within a year, the UK would become a Russian colony and run like Russia, with a secret police and forced labour camps for anyone showing the least opposition to the Russian regime”.
“The Russian language would be taught in our schools, and Russian or pro-Russian Quislings would run our public institutions. The Royal Family would go to Canada, and resistance leaders would try to establish a following from secret bases in Wales and Scotland,” the professor continued.
He warned that the UK needs to “up our game”, suggesting we must “display our real might with our most modern weaponry and aircraft” during significant occasions such as state visits.