Speculation that Vladimir Putin is ill and could be assassinated is wishful thinking, the head of the UK armed forces has said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin also said the next prime minister must be aware that Russia is the “biggest threat” facing the UK. Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday Breakfast, he said: “I think some of it, some of the comments that it’s not good or that someone will surely assassinate him or take him out, I think it’s wishful thinking. “For us, as military professionals, we see a relatively stable regime in Russia, we see that President Putin has been able to suppress any opposition, and then we see a hierarchy that is invested in President Putin, so no one at the top has an incentive to challenge President Putin , and that’s grim. “That’s why the Russia challenge will last well beyond 2022 and 2023 and 2024, this will go on for a long time … potentially decades in terms of Russia as a threat.”
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He said Russia’s ground forces are probably less of a threat in the short term because of this downgrade. However, the admiral warned about Russia’s nuclear power, cyber and space capabilities. The next prime minister will be briefed on the war in Ukraine and reminded of the “tremendous responsibility they have with the UK as a nuclear power”, Admiral Radakin said. Asked what he would tell the new prime minister, he added: “We will always give them a briefing on the current situation so they know where we have our armed forces. That’s dominated by Ukraine and the support we provide to Ukraine, but we also try to step back and give a broader threat picture. “And then we have to remind the prime minister of the extraordinary responsibility they have with the UK as a nuclear power, and that is part of the initiative for a new British prime minister and that becomes the focus.”
