Ex-British Army Chief Warns Conflict with Russia a ‘Realistic Possibility’ by 2030

General Sir Patrick Sanders, who stepped down as Chief of the General Staff last year, told The Telegraph on July 11 that the United Kingdom must prepare for the “realistic possibility” of war with Russia by 2030. He said Moscow “could conduct a limited attack on a NATO member” within months, should it cease fighting in Ukraine.

Sanders urged the government to take urgent steps over the next five years, including building bomb shelters and expanding air defenses. He cited Finland’s model of protecting fully 4.5 million people with bunkers as an example the U.K. should follow.

He also criticized the current level of funding for air defenses and called for investment in resilience against missiles, drones, power grid attacks, and the protection of critical national infrastructure.

Sanders emphasized that the British Army remains modest in size and capability. He stressed the need to modernize and enhance the lethality of forces amid an evolving threat landscape.

This stark warning comes ahead of a major strategic defence review and echoes growing concerns across NATO about hybrid and conventional threats from Russia—and possibly China and Iran.