Defence chief has ‘serious’ talks with PM and chancellor in face of cash squeeze and Ukraine war

Published

3 years ago

November 14, 2022

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The head of the UK’s armed forces and the defence secretary have held “serious” talks with the prime minister and chancellor about the need to invest in defence at a time of war in Europe despite grave economic pressures at home.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that Rishi Sunak “absolutely” understood the UK cannot have economic stability without security – and that comes at a price.

But he would not be drawn on whether he and Ben Wallace had managed to secure an extra £8bn over the next two years – the amount needed to protect their budget and modernisation plans from inflation and a weak pound.

The military is vulnerable to foreign exchange rates because much of its kit is purchased from overseas.

In a wide-ranging interview to mark Remembrance Sunday, the chief of the defence staff also said:

• A decision by Russia to withdraw its troops from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was a “significant” moment of failure for President Vladimir Putin
• The UK does not see that “we are on a pathway” to Russia using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine
• There was a particular poignancy about Remembrance Day this year because Europe once again had war on its soil and because of the death of the Queen – “another loss of a Second World War veteran”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to deliver his autumn budget on Thursday and is expected to set out tax rises and spending cuts to fill a multibillion-pound hole in the government’s finances.

With the Ministry of Defence – like all other departments – under pressure to cut costs, Admiral Radakin said “numerous” conversations have been had over the past fortnight about the security situation in Europe and globally.

Speaking in an interview that was recorded on Friday, he told Sky News: “We specifically had an hour with the prime minister and the chancellor – and I accompanied the defence secretary – to talk about what would be the impact of a financial settlement and – to the richness and the seriousness of that conversation – recognising that this war in Europe is part of the reason why we have the level of inflation that we have and why we have the economic pressure.

“Therefore, in trying to deal with the economic pressure, we need to acknowledge that at its core is this security pressure in Europe.

“The government is having the right level of conversation to try and manage that, but also manage the security situation into the future.”

‘You’re seeing Russia fail’

Asked if the government recognised there cannot be economic stability without security and therefore defence needs to be invested in fully, the defence chief said: “Absolutely”.

Part of the discussion was looking at what changes need to be made to a sweeping integrated review of defence, security and foreign policy that was published last year.

Admiral Radakin, who led the Royal Navy before being promoted to head of the armed forces in 2020, said they were looking at what might need to be adjusted in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “and that might mean in the longer term more investment”.

He batted away any suggestion he might resign if the armed forces did not receive the funding it needs in the immediate term.

He said: “I think we’ve got to be really cautious of the risk of being a bit too shrill in saying what if this happens, then … this person is going to resign. I’m much more in the space of: the right conversations are being had. Let’s wait and see what the autumn statement says.”

Turning to Ukraine’s success in recapturing Kherson city, the only provincial capital that had been seized by Russia during nearly nine months of full-scale war, the military chief said: “I think it’s significant in the sense that once again, you’re seeing Russia fail.”

But he cautioned against declaring the win to be a turning point in the war.

‘It’s always a special day’

He said: “We’ve got to be careful of jumping to: This is a big moment and this means that we’re closer to the end… I think what it leads to is continued messiness, a protracted conflict where Ukraine is being supported by an international community and has the courage and determination and ingenuity to fight for its survival. And that’s going to win out.”

As for the prospect of Russia, backed into a corner, resorting to a nuclear strike, Admiral Radakin said: “That would be another total horrific step and we don’t see that we’re on a pathway to that particular spectre.”

Admiral Radakin also paid tribute to the late Queen as the nation marks Remembrance Sunday without her for the first time.

He said: “I think there’s a special poignancy this year with both the loss of Her Majesty – another loss of a Second World War veteran.

“I also think it is poignant when we have, once again, the spectre of war in Europe and all that that entails – a country that’s being invaded and is fighting for its freedom.

“So, it’s always a special day. It feels especially so this year.”

World

Fierce battle for frontline towns where Ukraine’s soldiers are surrounded

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Fierce battle for frontline towns where Ukraine's soldiers are surrounded

Footage geolocated by Sky News showed Russian soldiers walking through the Shakhtarskyi neighbourhood on the outskirts of Pokrovsk on Thursday.

The video sheds light on the situation in this key frontline area, as Russian forces slowly encroach on Myrnohrad, the satellite town to Pokrovsk, and one of its last remaining outposts.

Videos geolocated by Sky News show fighting intensifying in recent weeks, as Russian forces attempt to gain control of the towns and their network of road and rail intersections.

Gaining control here would give Russia a base from which to access key cities further north that form part of Ukraine’s “fortress belt”.

Russian forces are advancing from all directions, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), with only one small opening to the northwest of Myrnohrad remaining.

Estimated to be only 3km wide by military experts, this withdrawal corridor is patrolled by Russian drone units which monitor the area for moving vehicles and those who may attempt to leave on foot.

Russian forces have been advancing on Myrnohrad since late October.

Video from a Ukrainian unit in Myrnohad, posted on 29 October, shows a Russian vehicle attempting to enter the town from the northeast. The tank is attacked and soldiers attempting to enter on foot are targeted.

Video posted on 3 November shows Russian forces on the ground in the south of the town.

By 8 November, Russian strikes begin to pummel the northeast of Myrnohrad, the location of many of the town’s high-rise buildings, at that time, held by Ukrainian forces.

George Barros, Russia Team & Geospatial Intelligence Team Lead at ISW, told Sky News that Russian strategy in Pokrovsk has been to erode Ukrainian logistical capacity using drones and artillery over the course of several months.

“After denying supply lines and degrading the frontline forces by essentially cutting them off from behind and starving them out in their positions, then the Russians move forward with their infantry and frontal assaults,” Barros explained.

Capture the flag

For a brief period, it looked as though Russian forces had captured Myrnohrad.

Videos posted on 13 November appeared to show a Russian flag flying over the Myrnohrad mine.

However, video posted the following day showed a Ukrainian drone shooting it down.

Both Russian and Ukrainian forces continue to fight for control of Myrnohrad, with videos posted on the 19 and 20 November showing Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian positions in the town, and Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian forces on foot.

While the exact numbers of Russian and Ukrainian forces in the area remains unclear, reports indicate that three key Russian units are active in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, and are advancing on the towns from the north and south.

A number of Ukrainian units remain inside the towns, including the 145th Assault regiment and the 32nd, 35th, 38th and 155th Brigades. Reports indicate that more Ukrainian units have been moved into surrounding areas to hold the withdrawal corridor open.

Sky News reached out to the Ukrainian brigades still in Myrnohrad, but they declined to comment, citing military regulations.

Strategic significance

Natia Seskuria, associate international security fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), explained that the area is important for the Ukrainians to keep and the Russians to take because of its strategic position.

“Situated at a major road and rail intersection in Donetsk Oblast, Pokrovsk has functioned as a central artery for moving troops, equipment, and supplies to Ukrainian units deployed along the surrounding front.”

Russia “would gain a platform to redirect its offensive efforts toward Ukraine’s principal defensive urban centres… including Kramatorsk and Slovyansk,” Seskuria said.

Ukrainian and Russian soldiers in Pokrovsk have fought intensely and at close quarters over the last month.

In late October US-made Black Hawk helicopters containing specialist troops directed by Ukrainian military intelligence entered Pokrovsk to try to keep the town.

But as Russian troops advance, Myrnohrad is becoming the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the area.

Uncertain future

At least up until 12 November, there were still civilians living in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, despite strikes on buildings in both cities.

A post made on that day by the Donetsk state regional administration estimated 1,200 people remain living in Pokrovsk and 900 in Myrnohrad.

Evacuation is only possible with the help of the military or police, and it is not clear how many have evacuated in the 11 days since.

Barros of ISW says gaining Pokrovsk would increase Russia’s leverage at the negotiating table.

“If the Russians can successfully convince enough international leaders that, okay, the Russians took Pokrovsk, they’re going to take the next thing, and they’re going take the thing, so now let’s negotiate, then that is a strategic victory for the Russians.”

Production by Michelle Inez Simon, Visual Investigations Producer.

The Data x Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

World

Torrential rain triggers deadly flooding and landslides in Vietnam

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Torrential rain triggers deadly flooding and landslides in Vietnam

Torrential rain, flooding and landslides has left more than 100 people dead or missing in Vietnam.

Rainfall has exceeded 74.8in (1.9 metres) in some parts of central Vietnam over the past week.

The region is a major coffee production belt and home to popular beaches, but it is also prone to storms and floods.

Fatalities have been reported in Dak Lak province and the neighbouring Khanh Hoa province.

Footage has been released by local police of a dramatic rescue, involving a drone which airlifted a stranded man to safety from an island in the middle of the Serepok River, Dak Lak province.

The government estimates the flooding has cost the economy around 8.98 trillion dong (£260m).

More than 235,000 houses were flooded and nearly 80,000 hectares of crops were damaged, Vietnam’s disaster agency said.

On Thursday, VietnamNet newspaper said that a suspension bridge on Da Nhim River in Lam Dong province had been swept away.

Video footage posted online showed the bridge being swallowed by the river in just a few seconds.

Naval forces have been deployed to help stranded citizens in Khanh Hoa, the Vietnam News Agency reported, adding that floodwaters had reached record highs in many areas.

Photos shared in state media reports showed residents, including children, sitting on the roofs of flooded houses in Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces.

A seven-year-old girl was rescued late on Wednesday in Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong province, after being buried by a landslide, the Nhan Dan newspaper reported.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rain, knocked down and buried part of the house where the girl was staying.

She was pulled out after an hour and a half and was taken to hospital with a broken leg, according to the report.

World

Several airlines cancel Venezuela flights after ‘hazardous situation’ warning

Published

10 hours ago

November 23, 2025

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Several airlines cancel Venezuela flights after 'hazardous situation' warning

Three international airlines have cancelled flights departing from Venezuela after a “potentially hazardous situation” warning.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday issued an alert to airlines flying over the country, citing the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela“.

The US is poised to launch a new phase of operations related to the South American nation in the coming days, four US officials said.

The exact timing or scope of the operations, as well as whether President Donald Trump has made the final decision to act, have not yet been established.

Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca and TAP Air Portugal cancelled their flights from the capital, Caracas, in north Venezuela, on Saturday, according to Flightradar24 and the official website of Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport.

TAP Air Portugal confirmed it cancelled flights scheduled for Saturday and next Tuesday.

“This decision follows information issued by the United States aviation authorities, which indicates that safety conditions in Venezuelan airspace are not guaranteed,” the airline said.

The Trump administration has been considering Venezuela-related options to tackle what it has portrayed as President Nicolas Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.

Venezuela’s president has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Mr Maduro, who is celebrating his 63rd birthday on Sunday and has been in power since 2013, has claimed Mr Trump is looking to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will rally against any such attempt.

Aeronautica Civil de Colombia said in a statement there were “potential risks” of flying in the Maiquetia area “due to the deterioration of security conditions and increased military activity in the region”.

Spain’s Iberia also said it was cancelling its flights to Caracas from Monday until further notice.

Reports of looming action have been growing in recent weeks as the US military has deployed forces to the Caribbean, amid heightened tensions with Venezuela. The Pentagon referred questions to the White House and the CIA declined to comment.

There has been a huge US military build-up in the region, including the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, at least eight other warships, and F-35 aircraft.

The build-up in the Caribbean has been rumbling on for months, and Mr Trump has authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela.

The US plans on Monday to designate the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuela-based alleged criminal group, a foreign terrorist organisation for what the US sees as its role in importing illegal drugs into America, officials said.