British army must prepare to fight Russians and win WW3, top general warns

General Sir Patrick Sanders, the new chief of staff, said British soldiers may soon have to “fight again in Europe” after the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Britain’s new top general has told every serving soldier to prepare to fight the Russian army in a possible World War III.

General Sir Patrick Sanders has warned troops they must be prepared to “fight once more in Europe” as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has ushered in a “new era of insecurity”.

Corresponding The suncame the warning in his first speech since he became chief of staff this month and assumed overall control of the British army.

“There is now an urgent need to forge an army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle.

“We are the generation that must prepare the army to fight again in Europe.”

General Sanders added: “I am the first Chief of Staff since 1941 to assume command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores our core purpose – to protect the UK by standing ready to fight and win wars on land.”

The 56-year-old, who previously commanded operations in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, pledged to accelerate plans to modernize the army and deploy it more frequently abroad to respond quickly to crises.

But in his new role, General Saunders will lead Britain’s smallest army for 300 years after the government reduced the force to 73,000 soldiers.

It comes amid growing fears that Vladimir Putin could launch a strike against one of Britain’s NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned from a visit to Ukraine yesterday and warned Brits that “we must prepare for a long war”.

He said that if Russia were successful in securing territory in Ukraine, “no nation would be safe anywhere” because “any dictator would feel emboldened to pursue his own ambitions with violence.”

The Prime Minister also said Britain aims to work with allies to train up to 10,000 troops every 120 days to support Ukraine.

According to the United Nations, since the invasion began in February, more than 4,200 civilians have been killed and more than 7 million people have fled the country.