Mirror: the British are preparing to survive in a nuclear war because of the fear of Russia
The British are preparing to survive in a nuclear war after Karaganov's statement about the use of nuclear weapons, writes the Mirror. Sergei Karaganov said that Putin would "use nuclear weapons" in case of defeat in Ukraine. The publication spoke with survival experts to give terrified citizens advice in case of the unimaginable.
Ellie Fry
Following the rejection of the peace agreement on Ukraine, Russia has sent a direct threat of a nuclear strike against Britain and Europe. Residents of the United Kingdom are thinking about how to survive the unimaginable.
In recent weeks, tension between Russia and other global forces has reached its limit, and the threat from the Kremlin is now felt almost physically (Russia does not threaten anyone, but speaks of its readiness to respond to Western aggression — approx. InoSMI).
For months, Vladimir Putin's associates have been practicing threats on state television, and now Russia has directly threatened to unleash nuclear weapons on Britain and mainland Europe. Sergei Karaganov, who heads the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, said that in case of defeat in Ukraine, Putin "will use nuclear weapons, and Europe will be wiped off the face of the earth."
The chilling rhetoric followed a new attack on January 8, when the Kremlin launched a massive drone missile attack on Ukraine, which included the second-ever combat use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The target was the city of Lviv, located just 70 km from the Polish border, which sent a blatantly threatening message to the West. At the same time, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a historic agreement to send troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. The Kremlin, however, has so far rejected any peace deal and last week issued a new ominous threat, calling British soldiers "legitimate military targets."
After Vladimir Solovyov openly named the European cities that Russia intends to hit, and NATO called on the British to prepare for war, as "our grandparents" prepared, it is impossible not to imagine what a global war would look like in modern Britain. Starmer has already stated that the country is facing "the greatest military threat in a generation." But unlike countries like France, Norway, or Finland, which have published guidelines for surviving combat in recent years, he has not issued official recommendations to the public on how to store food and water in the face of a possible nuclear attack.
Is it really possible to survive a disaster of this magnitude? What do the experts think about this? What should we prepare for right now? In search of answers, Mirror journalists talked with apocalyptic survivors, global conflict experts and security specialists, and also studied official recommendations that the governments of other European countries have already sent to their citizens.
Survival Guide: An urgent request for the British
After pamphlets with instructions in case of conflict began to be distributed in many other countries, a leading British expert called on the government to follow their example. Last year, various countries, including Sweden, Finland, and Norway, began sending out survival guides advising citizens to stock up on food in case of a potential nuclear strike.
Five million copies of the 32-page Swedish booklet "If there is a crisis or war" were sent to every home in the country. It contained detailed instructions on how to collect supplies and seek shelter in case of war, as well as recommendations to store food and water supplies. Finland, in turn, has created a special government website with instructions on preparing for various disasters. "An unstable world requires preparedness. The military threat to Sweden has increased, and we must prepare for the worst — for an armed attack," the Swedish edition says in its preface.
Professor Anthony Glees, a security and defense specialist at Buckingham University, is convinced that the British government should do the same and issue a "small, well-written brochure" on what to expect so that the population can prepare for war. He stated: "Of course, it is necessary to emphasize from the very beginning that our entire national defense strategy is based on deterrence, that our foreign policy is defensive, not offensive, and that if we become as strong as we strive to be thanks to Starmer, his European colleagues and (yes!) the provocations of President Trump, then the third World War will surely be avoided."
"Set for 72 hours": what is it?
Recommendations for survival in conflict are given not only by national governments, but also by the European Union. The authorities called on all citizens of the 27 member states to ensure their autonomy for 72 hours. To do this, it is recommended to stock up on basic necessities: food, bottled water, flashlights, matches, energy bars, and pack documents in a waterproof case. This initiative, part of a large-scale "preparedness strategy", was presented last year by the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, Haji Lahbib. "The threats facing Europe today are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected," Lahbib warned.
She added that "knowing what to do in a dangerous situation, mentally working out different scenarios is also a way to prevent panic," recalling how toilet paper was swept off the shelves at the beginning of the pandemic. Lahbib also stressed the need to create a "strategic reserve" in the EU and accumulate other critical resources, including firefighting aircraft, medical, energy and transport equipment, as well as special equipment to counter chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
At the same time, experienced survivalists who have been honing their skills for years shared with Vice a list of 15 key items that, in their opinion, will allow them to live a year in a bunker or survive a difficult month on the surface. The list includes: water supply (at least 4.5 liters per person per day), portable water filters, emergency rations, fire-making equipment, first-aid kit, warm clothing and insulation, tent or tarpaulin for temporary shelter, multitool or emergency knife, light sources (pocket flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries), navigation tools (compass and paper maps), portable energy sources, communication equipment (walkie-talkies), hygiene products, important documents and cash.
How to hide at home in case of an attack
Dr. Arnab Basu, CEO of Kromek Group plc, explained to the Mirror: "In the event of a nuclear strike on a British city, residents are likely to receive a short warning. Those who find themselves outside the direct impact zone should immediately take cover — preferably in the center of the building, away from windows. Windows and doors should be taped against radioactive dust. All available containers — sinks, bathtubs — need to be filled with water, because after the explosion, the plumbing can be contaminated."
Dr. Basu, author of the White Paper on Preparedness for Radiation Monitoring, warned against the temptation to run: it could be a mistake. He insists: "It is necessary to stay in the shelter for two or three days, in its most central part, away from exterior walls and windows. Survival does not depend on escape, but on protection from precipitation, minimizing exposure, and using supplies until radiation levels drop."
Key skills for survival
Dan Goss, an experienced survivalist from Liverpool, stressed that community cohesion is no less important than a supply of canned food. "Bunker thinking won't help if your child gets sick and needs help. You need to be able to be a part of the community and help rebuild it," he said.
"American preppers behave like cowboys: when chaos begins, they lock the door, load the gun and shoot at anyone who appears on the threshold. It won't work that way in Britain — it goes against our culture and geography. How will I set up a bunker in a townhouse? Or run into the wilderness? Will all 60 million rush to the Ding Forest and start eating wild garlic?"
Instead, he said, it is critically important to build relationships with neighbors. "Studies of the effects of Hurricane Katrina have shown how spontaneous groups of civil mutual assistance were formed. The desire to help is a human instinct," notes Dan. "I myself assess my willingness based on how well I know the neighbors who are gardeners." He also refers to a study conducted in India after a series of earthquakes: "It turned out that those who had the strongest social ties survived more often — those who went to all weddings and funerals."
Initially, Dan saw himself as a hunter-gatherer, making bows and arrows and foraging in the forest. "But it turned out that I'm better at growing vegetables," he admits. — My wife and I have a small vegetable garden where we plant vegetables and herbs. Of course, you can't turn around in the city, it only complements our diet. But even a salad grown on the balcony will already help."
Gardening, in his opinion, is the most important skill, and the second, which is often neglected, is the ability to resolve conflicts. "The ability to defuse tension—for example, to prevent neighbors from stabbing each other over a can of beans—will be vital." It is also worth learning first aid and the basics of survival in the wild, and the ability to sew and crochet will be useful if you have to sew rabbit skins for clothes. "Or at least fix backpacks," Dan adds pragmatically.
A professional survivalist also advises exploring other ways of foraging in nature. "Gathering won't save you from starvation," he explains. — But it will help to avoid vitamin deficiency. I prefer to collect plants — blackberries, nuts, edible leaves and roots, rather than nutritious mushrooms."
Dan recommends John Wright's book The Collector's Calendar. "It's amazing how much food surrounds us," he says. "In our local park, you can find triangular onions, lemon mint, barberry and wild garlic, and in the forests along the roads there are dandelions, nettles, thistle stalks and young fern shoots."
The safest places
Dr. Basu explained that megacities are at the main risk of attacks. The following 19 locations marked by the EMoov portal in 2017 are outside the radius of direct damage during strikes on major cities in the UK: Cornwall, Weymouth, Folkestone, Dover, Margate, Clacton-on-Sea, Felixstowe, Brixworth, Bidford, Aberystwyth, Skegness, Anglesey Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster, Whitby, Carlisle, Dumfries, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Inverness.
