We wouldn’t have long to react…
Nuclear strategists have disclosed the narrow window of time Britons would have to respond if Russia were to initiate an assault on the UK.
Since Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in 2022, conversations about the grim possibility of global mutual destruction via nuclear warfare have surged, casting a long shadow over public discourse.
Not exactly the kind of news to lift anyone’s spirits.
Russia’s chief propagandists have been anything but silent, boasting about the catastrophic devastation a single nuclear strike could inflict upon Britain. One official spokesperson chillingly asserted that “one Sarmat [missile] equals the erasure of Great Britain,” while purportedly ‘leaked’ target lists have named cities like Hull, Edinburgh, and Cumbria as potential strike zones.
But what if the unimaginable transpired—if Russia actually launched a nuclear attack against Britain? What would unfold in those critical moments?
How long would it take a Russian missile to reach the UK – and would we survive? (Getty Stock Image)
How swiftly could a nuclear warhead traverse the distance from Russia to the United Kingdom?
In a grim hypothetical, should Russia unleash one of its formidable arsenal—estimated at around 4,299 nuclear warheads—propelled westward, experts estimate Britons would face a fleeting 15 to 20 minutes before devastation struck.
Professor Andrew Futter of the University of Leicester, who recently shared insights with The Express on Britain’s survivability in such an event, posits that impact could occur in as little as 15 minutes following launch.
A scant sliver of time to prepare.
Sky News adds that intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) can reach their peak velocities in as little as 10 minutes, reinforcing an estimated 20-minute warning window for the UK.
But how much advance notice would British authorities actually receive before an impending nuclear strike?
Professor Futter explains that any incoming missile alert would be relayed through the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) stationed at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire—Britain’s sentinel in the sky for ballistic threats.
Vladimir Putin isn’t shy when it comes to threatening nuclear war (DMITRY ERMOLENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“It simply wouldn’t afford us any real time to act. Perhaps government officials might find refuge—there’s a bunker beneath Whitehall and designated shelters for VIPs,” the nuclear expert remarked.
Still, a 15 to 20-minute warning represents a stark improvement over the Cold War-era system, which afforded the UK a mere four minutes’ notice before potential impact and was ultimately decommissioned in 1992.
Professor Futter acknowledges that while Britain could not thwart a nuclear strike—given its reliance on deterrence—the government would have sufficient moments to launch retaliatory missiles eastward, deploying one of the four active submarines armed with nuclear warheads.
But the pressing question remains: could the UK endure a nuclear assault?
Recent simulations of nuclear strikes on British soil yielded grim outcomes, with Professor Futter warning that, although such a scenario is remote, only a handful of missiles would suffice to dismantle the UK as a functioning nation.
If anxiety creeps in, the government’s official guidance on surviving a nuclear attack is available for those who want to be prepared.
However, anyone familiar with the 1984 film Threads will attest that survival wouldn’t simply hinge on the question “could we endure,” but rather on the far bleaker contemplation of “would we even want to.”
Featured Image Credit: Contributor/Getty Images
