Latest news with #HouseofCommonsDefenceCommittee
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown since Ukraine war weighs heavy on top British Admiral
UK-Russia military hotline breakdown raises strategic alarm UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin told the House of Commons Defence Committee he regrets the breakdown of direct military communications with Russia, specifically referencing the loss of a previously active hotline with Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. 'I used to have calls with General Gerasimov,' Radakin said during the June 10 session. He noted that he and then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had spoken with Gerasimov around February 11, 2022, just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. The communication occurred through a dedicated military hotline between the UK Ministry of Defence and the Russian General Staff's Situation Centre. According to defense officials, the hotline had been tested daily for functionality and reserved for urgent crisis communication. Despite escalating tensions with Russia, the UK has maintained strong ties with Ukraine, with UK Defence Chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin meeting his Ukrainian and French counterparts in Kyiv in April, 2025 to discuss the structure and size of an international "reassurance force" to support any future peace deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Also read: NATO chief calls for 'quantum leap' in defence and says Russia could attack in 5 years That channel was effectively discontinued after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. No further call logs or tests have been reported since, suggesting that the mil-to-mil link between the UK and Russia was severed. Live Events 'In a dangerous world, not having those mil-to-mil communications - that's a regret,' Radakin said. Hotline served as strategic de-escalation tool before breakdown The UK-Russia hotline was not just symbolic. It served as a crucial crisis-management tool during escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. The daily-tested line ensured that high-level commanders could resolve potential misunderstandings quickly. In addition to the February 2022 contact, the channel was reportedly used again in October 2022, when Radakin and Gerasimov spoke following Russia's public allegations that Ukraine was preparing to use a 'dirty bomb.' That exchange was part of broader efforts to clarify intent and prevent dangerous misinterpretations. Officials on both sides acknowledged the importance of such conversations in avoiding miscalculation. Also read: From 10,000 to 1,00,000 drones: UK increases drone deliveries to Ukraine days after Operation Spider's Web Despite this interaction, no sustained military dialogue resumed after 2022. With the hotline's eventual collapse, the UK lost the capacity to initiate direct communication with Russia's military command during periods of heightened risk. Loss of UK-Russia military communication raises escalation risks Admiral Radakin's concern reflects broader NATO anxieties about losing critical 'deconfliction' tools amid ongoing global instability. With no direct UK–Russia military channel in place, misunderstandings during operations near Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, or NATO airspace could escalate quickly. 'Not having those mil-to-mil communications' has become more consequential as both sides engage in active and indirect conflicts worldwide. Although some diplomatic channels remain open, military-to-military discussions, especially for crisis prevention, are not currently functional. Also read: Six Chilling Ways Putin's Russia Could Destroy the UK Within Hours: British Government Warns As global tensions rise and armed conflict continues in Ukraine, the breakdown of this once-active military hotline underscores the growing strategic risk. For now, Radakin and other UK officials must rely on NATO or multilateral frameworks for any engagement with Russia's armed forces.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Armed forces facing ‘lottery' in access to healthcare and school places
Military personnel are facing a 'lottery' in access to healthcare services for themselves and their families and getting their children into school. The 'unpredictability and mobility' of service life has made this worse, the chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee has said. Inconsistencies in the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports the military community through a range of initiatives and grants, puts personnel at a disadvantage, a report from the committee found. A 'worrying number' of people felt that the covenant was 'ineffective' or had been 'disregarded' when they cited it, the report said. Some reported they missed out on getting NHS treatment because they fell to the bottom of waiting lists when moved to a new place of duty, while others said they had difficulty finding school places for their children. Committee chairman Tan Dhesi said the report finds that the covenant is 'inconsistently implemented'. He said: 'We heard evidence of personnel being financially disadvantaged, unable to access necessary medical care, or unable to find an appropriate school for their children, due to their service. 'When the covenant works – it works well. 'Personnel and their families told us that they had successfully made use of the legal duty of the covenant to access services. 'But this is a lottery, made worse by the unpredictability and mobility of service life. 'When trying to access healthcare, each move can send service families to the bottom of waiting lists for treatment.' He urged the Government to provide guidance and direction so the private and public sector are clear on what their responsibilities are to service personnel and their families. The Labour Party committed in its manifesto to putting the covenant 'fully into law'. The Defence Committee called for the legal duty to give due regard to military service to be expanded to central governments and the devolved administrations. It also pressed for policy development in Whitehall to take armed forces' needs into account. The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils are committed to meeting veterans' needs and ensuring they have access to housing, health and community services. But the LGA also stressed that councils need to be 'adequately funded' in the upcoming spending review to provide resources, especially if they take on further duties. Helen Maguire, the Liberal Democrats' defence spokeswoman, urged the Government to follow through on its promise to back the Armed Forces Covenant. The Lib Dem MP, who previously served in the Royal Military Police, said: 'Our military personnel put their lives on the line for our country. So it's utterly unacceptable that, by virtue of their sacrifice, they should find it harder to access healthcare and education. 'I know first hand how difficult it can be to battle the postcode lottery of public service provision for military personnel – and it can't be allowed to continue. The Government must now follow through on its promise at the election to strengthen the Covenant and fully back our armed forces.'
