Army members have been told that they "must be prepared" for the possibility of being deployed to Ukraine to fight in the war against Russia.
Warrant Officer Paul Carney issued the warning six months on from Vladimir Putin's invasion of the country in February, saying that British troops “must be prepared for new realities” as the UK military was now “shaping itself to meet the threat from Russia”.
WO1 Carney, the Army’s highest-ranking Warrant Officer, instructed soldiers to check that they were physically fit enough for operations, as well as taking the time to have conversations with family members, The Mirror reports . WO1 Carney wrote in Soldier magazine: “It is also important we prepare loved ones and families, who often have the hardest role in our absence.
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“My ask is that you have discussions about a potential deployment with them now. Find the numbers for the support networks and the relevant people who can help them, such as the unit welfare officer and padre.
"This is key as we could be out of contact for extended periods on tour,” he continued. “Making sure our loved ones have the support they need is vital for us too, as we’re not going to give 100% on tour if we are worried about home.”
The warning follows a message from head of the Army General Sir Patrick Sanders back in June, who said: “We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again.” Britain has already sent military aid to Ukraine in the form of a range of equipment including multiple launch rocket systems, armoured vehicles, artillery, small arms and ammunition.
General Lord Richard Dannatt, former head of the Army, added: “This is prudent advice from the Army’s top soldier. It does not mean the Army is about to deploy to Ukraine but it is the duty of any army in peacetime to prepare for war, in every aspect of life.
“That said, with a war in Europe, an aggressive Russia and worried countries on Russia’s borders, it is only sensible that British soldiers are realistic about what might happen.”
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