1 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:06,519 The following programme contains strong language 2 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:09,560 and scenes which some viewers may find distressing. 3 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,519 It's eight o'clock on Thursday, the 15th of July. 4 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:20,719 The headline. 5 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,279 Two men shot dead outside a pub in Lincolnshire last night 6 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:28,799 have been identified as fighter pilots visiting nearby RAF Cranwell. 7 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:36,919 The Government has convened a meeting of 8 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,479 the Emergency COBRA Committee to discuss the incident. 9 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,119 I'm afraid it's looking like a targeted assassination, 10 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:43,400 Prime Minister. 11 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,399 Our job is to protect the country. 12 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,240 Very little else matters. 13 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:55,559 You've got the live feed. 14 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,279 Sirs... That looks like a torpedo. 15 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:03,679 Impact! 16 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,079 Oh, my God. 17 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,119 Misinformation is already spreading. 18 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,959 Find the submarine ASAP. 19 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:10,679 If I issue that instruction now, 20 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,280 I can't reverse it once I've gone out of this room. 21 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:15,920 I understand what war is. 22 00:02:16,640 --> 00:02:19,839 Today's generation of politicians haven't really had to think 23 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:21,680 about that until now. 24 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,279 Radar alert. 25 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:33,519 We cannot retaliate and... 26 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,559 No, no, doing nothing isn't an option. 27 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:42,240 They are recovering as many as they can, but we must expect fatalities. 28 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:48,119 The world order that we knew is collapsing. 29 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,919 We're facing a direct military threat. 30 00:02:52,920 --> 00:02:55,239 Where have we been? With respect, Foreign Secretary... 31 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,279 I don't need respect. I just need an answer. 32 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,719 You don't know whether you're capable of stepping up. 33 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,119 It's between bad decision and worse. 34 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,239 We need a decision. 35 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:05,999 Michael, Michael, Michael, 36 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,519 we're talking about using weapons of mass destruction. 37 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,359 Now, we'll not sacrifice the law 38 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,320 because we become gung-ho in a bunker. 39 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,599 What is the time between launch and impact? 40 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:19,000 22 minutes. 41 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:22,439 Oh, my God. Do it now. 42 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,879 We can only advise that the government are working hard. 43 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,159 Hello, Government Press Office. 44 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:36,119 Thank you, colleagues, for coming here at such short notice. 45 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,599 There have been some very worrying events. 46 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,360 Two RAF pilots have been murdered. 47 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,000 I'll hand over to our Intelligence Chair, Chris. 48 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:50,239 Thank you, Prime Minister. 49 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:56,199 Last night, two RAF pilots were shot dead outside a pub in Lincolnshire. 50 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:00,840 From CCTV, you'll see the two pilots leaving the pub. 51 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,719 And from the right, you'll see what looks, frankly, 52 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,680 to be a professional assassin... 53 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:10,560 ...pulls out a gun... 54 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,560 ...and shoots them dead in the street. 55 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,559 He then picks up what looks like the shell casings 56 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:19,760 to cover his tracks. 57 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:25,080 The motorbike was found later abandoned nearby. 58 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,679 Chief of the Defence Staff, 59 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,879 can you tell us more about what the motivation 60 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,799 might have been for this attack? 61 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:35,920 So, uh, let me start with the two individuals who were killed. 62 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:42,079 They were both frontline pilots. So, they fly the F-35B jet. 63 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:46,559 That is a five-year programme. So, they're a very rare commodity. 64 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,840 So it seems to me the shooter had no doubt who he was shooting at. 65 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,959 I fear this could be part of a coordinated attempt 66 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,480 to harm our Air Force and ground our planes. 67 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,999 And it's not the only issue we're worried about, 68 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,680 I'm afraid to say, Prime Minister. 69 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,359 Yorkshire Ambulance Service is seriously affected 70 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:09,039 by a malware attack. 71 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:14,159 They've shut down all their digital systems and moved to pen and paper. 72 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,399 Ambulance response times to the worst Category 1 calls 73 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,279 have been severely hit. 74 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:23,760 The National Cyber Security Centre is working to contain the situation. 75 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,719 Do we know from where the attack was launched? 76 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:32,199 Forensic analysis of the attack is ongoing, and I'll update you. 77 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:35,239 Thank you. Defence Secretary, your thoughts?? 78 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,479 We are under cyber attack every single week from states, 79 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,399 from, from organised crime, invasions of our- 80 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,719 of our airspace, of our territorial waters, 81 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:47,159 threatening, testing us. 82 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,799 That is normal activity. Yes. 83 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:54,000 The assassination of these two pilots is exceptional. 84 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,800 There is a critical question here. 85 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:00,320 Are they connected? 86 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,199 Prime Minister, I think it's too early to say that these are, 87 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,999 in fact, linked. I think we should focus critically 88 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:08,440 on the attack in Lincolnshire. 89 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,359 Intelligence Chief is right to caution us 90 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,279 that there may not be connectivity between these events. 91 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,719 I hope he's right, but I fear he's wrong. 92 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,160 I fear it might be Russia. 93 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,239 I remember years ago, dealing with Russia at the Foreign Office 94 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,439 when they wanted to invade Georgia. 95 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,279 They had a series of false flags. 96 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,599 They had a cyber and ransomware attack on Estonia. 97 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,280 And there's elements of that in what we're hearing today. 98 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,399 Do you confidently know that these patterns of activities 99 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:45,959 are from Russia? 100 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,439 Could they be from another hostile foreign agent? 101 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,039 In the past, Islamist terrorist groups have recced air bases 102 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,319 and the like. 103 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:59,159 The ransomware attack, again, very difficult to be definitive. 104 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:02,399 Could be the Russian state, North Korea, 105 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:04,239 or indeed the Chinese state. 106 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,479 So I think we need to keep a bit of an open mind on that. 107 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:10,799 What we need is a clear picture of the nature of this attack 108 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,559 that may lead us better to understand where it's come from. 109 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:16,880 Time is of the essence. 110 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,959 Live feed on that, we'll let you know any updates... 111 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,040 We can find that out for you, and we can figure out what is going on... 112 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:32,399 OK. That's gonna need to be flashed through. 113 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,559 Prime Minister, there's a Russian vessel. 114 00:08:43,560 --> 00:08:45,599 It's called the Orlan. 115 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,719 It's in our territorial waters in and around the Orkneys, 116 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:49,999 north of Scotland. 117 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:54,680 This is a suspected Russian spy ship clad as a research vessel. 118 00:08:55,760 --> 00:09:00,799 Its function is to locate and, if necessary, damage things 119 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:05,359 like undersea cables that carry the UK's internet, 120 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,879 phone and financial data traffic. 121 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,839 There are, I think, of the order of 64 cables 122 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:12,199 that power the United Kingdom. 123 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,800 If they were to cut those cables, it turns daily life off. 124 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,919 We've been tracking this vessel for three days already, 125 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,520 but right now, this Russian spy ship is over a set of cables. 126 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,239 But this is nothing new. 127 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,479 Russia has been carrying out these sorts of operations 128 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,239 for some years in our waters. 129 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,879 So I think keep a slightly open mind on whether this is 130 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:39,839 a routine wrecking operation or whether it's something more serious. 131 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,799 There's no excuse for them being that close to our cables. 132 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,159 There just isn't. 133 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,479 The Orlan is under the surveillance from 134 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,799 the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Loughborough. 135 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,879 We must divert this Russian vessel out of UK waters. 136 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,919 Tell the Loughborough to launch her Merlin 137 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:02,039 and maintain visual contact with the Orlan now. 138 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,440 Visuals from the Loughborough, and Merlin's lifting. 139 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,439 This is British warship HMS Loughborough. 140 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,000 You're currently in the United Kingdom's territorial waters. 141 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,519 Your behaviour is not consistent with innocent passage. 142 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,320 You're required to turn away immediately. 143 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:46,999 So, Prime Minister, I now understand that HMS Loughborough 144 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:51,639 has issued a warning, but the Orlan is maintaining its course. 145 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,680 We'll keep hailing them, and if required, we will board them. 146 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,599 We need to know what else is out there and what we're dealing with. 147 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,679 Two pilots have been singled out and murdered. 148 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:07,639 There has been a cyber attack, 149 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,839 and we now have this Russian vessel. 150 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:16,719 This is the sort of thing that was seen as part of a Russian playbook 151 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,119 on how you would diminish the effectiveness 152 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,279 of UK Defences from within. 153 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,319 Prime Minister, thinking through the facts, 154 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,959 it's rather unusual for all of these things to be going wrong at once, 155 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,440 and therefore there may be something very serious going on. 156 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,159 I just want to exercise a little bit of caution here. 157 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,439 It's really important we start to build up an accurate picture 158 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,879 of how much of this is connected to Russia. 159 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,999 We need more information on the murder of the two pilots. 160 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,319 We need more information on the cyberattack. 161 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,199 My concern is we may not see things 162 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,279 because we are seeing things too quickly. 163 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:54,519 I agree. 164 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,799 It is appropriate for us to assume the worst-case scenario 165 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,119 and not assume a series of coincidences. 166 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,639 But we need to do that in a careful, not a hot-headed way. 167 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:09,319 We need to get the evidence that hopefully help de-escalate 168 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:10,919 rather than escalate this. 169 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,439 If this is Russia, it will escalate. 170 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,199 With your permission, Prime Minister, 171 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,239 I'd like to inform our allies about what we now observe 172 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:21,719 to be happening in the UK. 173 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,959 There would be nothing worse than activating some of our allies 174 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,279 who we may need in the coming days, 175 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:28,679 but we've told them things 176 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:31,279 which subsequently turn out not to be true. 177 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,399 But if we only proceed on the basis of certainty, 178 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,519 we are always going to be behind the... 179 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,080 Yes. ...initiative in the hands of Russia. 180 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:42,079 There is a strong likelihood, though, 181 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:46,479 as the Attorney General reminds us, no certainty, that it's Russia. 182 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,200 We need facts. 183 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:54,040 Get the intel back to this room as quickly as possible. 184 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,119 The Russians have done this in multiple countries. 185 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,079 But not all of it might be the Russians. 186 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:04,719 I just think if you tell people stuff which subsequently 187 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:07,759 turns out not to be true, they just don't believe you, right? 188 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:10,480 We're gonna end up with egg on face. Yeah, absolutely. 189 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:13,440 Yeah. 190 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,480 Yeah. Um, 2524... 191 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:20,880 Hello, Government Press Office. 192 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,559 I think for us, in terms of the press team, 193 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:27,439 I think it's important to manage this news. 194 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:29,319 We get some statement out quite soon... 195 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:31,199 Yeah. Yeah. ...that says we've had 196 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:32,279 a COBR Meeting. 197 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:34,519 We can say the Prime Minister will address Parliament 198 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,719 in the next, I don't know, hour. That would be good. 199 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:38,159 OK, great. 200 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,079 COBR has been convened. 201 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,200 The Prime Minister will address Parliament. 202 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:46,279 Sofia, I thought if you monitor on social media 203 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:48,280 anything that you think is significant. 204 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,399 I'm Babita Sharma, and this is UK News 24. 205 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:09,879 Your headlines this hour. 206 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,279 The NHS says two people have died waiting for ambulances 207 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,279 after a suspected cyber attack severely disrupted 208 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,120 Yorkshire Ambulance Services. 209 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:22,719 In other news, the bodies of two RAF pilots have been found 210 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,119 shot dead outside a pub in Lincolnshire. 211 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,679 Police say investigations are ongoing 212 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,119 and they are unable to offer any information at this time. 213 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:34,999 And a yellow weather warning is enforced across North East Scotland, 214 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,879 Orkney and Shetland, 215 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,800 with large waves and dangerous sea... 216 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,719 A new word for a Somerset boy. A malware attack. 217 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,119 Whatever that is. 218 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,679 I'm gonna pay these hackers to find out 219 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:55,559 why I'm not getting a bloody appointment. 220 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,599 I don't think they'll be able to find out. 221 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:59,319 Who'd hacked the NHS? 222 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:01,879 That's just sick, bro. These people are evil. 223 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,600 They need to be locked up. People are dying. 224 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,599 We need to wait to hear from the MOD 225 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,800 about what they are prepared to say. 226 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:17,959 On the back of these three events, 227 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,999 the question that ministers are confronting, 228 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,719 is this just a bad day or much more likely, 229 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,720 a prelude to more and worse? 230 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,439 The Attorney General is, as you would expect as a lawyer, 231 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,880 very concerned about proceeding on the basis of evidence. 232 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,799 If we only proceed on the basis of what we're certain about, 233 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,559 we'll always be behind the curve. Yeah. 234 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,799 I'll live with the concern and the disquiet, 235 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,040 and what I won't live with is us being caught with our trousers down. 236 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,159 We need to be strong, we need to be resolute, 237 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:54,799 we need to do what we need to do. 238 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:56,839 We don't want to let a kind of alpha male mentality 239 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,759 take us down a path that turns out to be counterproductive. 240 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:01,519 I was just a little bit cautious 241 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:04,119 that immediately we moved to saying this was an assassination, 242 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,839 this was Russia. It could have been a whole series of things 243 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,439 that could have led to that attack. 244 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,839 It could also be some far-right assassin. 245 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,839 We are dealing with a group of politicians 246 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:18,680 who are thinking about war for the first time in their lives. 247 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,719 You can understand how hard this is for them. 248 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,679 There's a lot of complexity in conditions of great uncertainty 249 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:27,279 against the clock, 250 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,799 but we will be doing them a great disservice 251 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:34,999 if we were helping them to wish away the problem or think that- 252 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,560 that we were on top of it when we know we're not. 253 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,719 What I need to do is to be quite forceful 254 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,879 in putting the actual measures that we need to take, 255 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,159 focus on surveillance and reconnaissance, 256 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:50,319 particularly around Scotland and into the North Atlantic. 257 00:16:50,320 --> 00:16:54,759 I need to know what the current state of our sea, land, air 258 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,159 and missile defences are. 259 00:16:56,160 --> 00:16:59,680 We've got bugger all, but we'll get a list of exact numbers to you, sir. 260 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,040 So, sirs... 261 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,519 ...what we're seeing here is the entirety of our fleet. 262 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,519 OK. Yeah, we- we've got a huge availability problem here. 263 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:15,919 We've got six Type 45 warships, 264 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:18,239 our only anti-ballistic missile defence, 265 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,999 but three are out of action and two are overseas. 266 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,639 Just one is available. 267 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,119 Only three of our five Type 23 warships are available. 268 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:28,639 We should have six attack submarines, 269 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,159 but four are out of action. 270 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:33,520 And one aircraft carrier. 271 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,399 And two-thirds of our fighter jets are in routine maintenance. 272 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,439 But it's not much, Tom, is it? 273 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:41,880 We're very thin here. 274 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,400 Can you come look? There's a video. 275 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,839 Video from a cargo ship just witnessing... 276 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,639 ...something was going down. 277 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,439 Did anyone else hear about British Navy tracking the Russian vessel? 278 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:06,640 What's going on? 279 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:09,639 It's all over social media. 280 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:11,000 Just more footage. 281 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:14,080 It's not safe to go in the water. 282 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:16,680 So that's the Navy ship. 283 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,560 Just keep tabs on what the reaction is, just so we can brief Ayesha. 284 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,319 Uh, we're getting visuals from the Loughborough now. 285 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:40,559 I can see the, uh, Orlan is just on the bow of the Loughborough. 286 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:42,519 They're going through heavy seas at the moment. 287 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,879 RMP is showing Loughborough is tracking the Orlan 288 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:47,919 just south of the Pentland Skerries Islands, 289 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,080 so we'll just keep you aware of that. 290 00:18:56,120 --> 00:18:59,559 It's a fast-moving picture. Can you bring us up to speed? 291 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,119 Prime Minister, police have arrested a suspect in Liverpool 292 00:19:03,120 --> 00:19:06,199 in connection with the murder of the two RAF pilots. 293 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,439 The suspect is male, 27 years old. 294 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,999 He's a UK national acting as a proxy 295 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,240 for organised crime groups with links to Russia. 296 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:18,919 Of course. 297 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,519 And from the National Cyber Security Centre, 298 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:25,719 they've now attributed the malware signature to a ransomware group 299 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,519 linked to the Russian state. 300 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,999 That confirms our fears. Yeah. 301 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:33,359 What more do we know about Russian thinking? 302 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:35,799 Do we have anything from our assets in Russia? 303 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,519 I don't think it will come as a surprise. 304 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:40,439 Their intent seems to be the fact that Britain has been 305 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:42,399 such a strong supporter of Ukraine. 306 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,159 Background intelligence, since 2022, 307 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:49,239 Russia's regarded itself as at war with the UK, basically, 308 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,239 and with other NATO allies, as well as Ukraine. 309 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,399 What we have seen so far is a prelude. 310 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,799 We've seen close-quarter assassination. 311 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,639 We've seen the Orlan. We've seen the cyberattack. 312 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,239 These three things are connected. 313 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,919 This is a classic combination of hybrid or grey space activity. 314 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,559 It's war, 315 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,159 but it's war that sits below the threshold of military conflict. 316 00:20:12,160 --> 00:20:14,879 We should assume that is gonna go up a gear. 317 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,759 Our first objective, we need to be thinking about things that we can do 318 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,199 to send a clear message 319 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,679 that if you mess with us, you will regret it. 320 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,399 And that Russia very quickly becomes aware 321 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,439 that we are prepared to do things they do not expect. 322 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:30,919 The DPM wants to come in. 323 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,959 Is it a specific question about the disposition? 324 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:35,559 It- it's a question, and it may sound like a very basic question. 325 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,079 But what is the nature of the attack we should be defending 326 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:40,279 against right now? 327 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,839 Are we talking about military incursion, uh, you know, 328 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:44,239 bombing from the air, 329 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,119 attacks on our critical national infrastructure? 330 00:20:47,120 --> 00:20:50,320 We cannot defend ourselves against everything. 331 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,360 Sirs, we have comms incoming from HMS Loughborough. 332 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,359 Update. The Russian ship, Orlan, 333 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,399 is drifting towards that small rocky outcrop. 334 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,000 Potentially lost power, potentially adrift. 335 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,760 Weather is worsening. We're seeing winds around 4 to 5 knots. 336 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:39,520 Impact, impact, impact. 337 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:45,079 Shit! 338 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:46,799 Listening in on a radio broadcast. 339 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,800 Channel 1-6. Channel 1-6. 340 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,719 The Russian vessel is taking on water with 47 crew on board. 341 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,439 Let's get on to the Coast Guard agencies in the- in the area. 342 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:05,639 Roger. Mayday, mayday, mayday. 343 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,479 Mayday confirmed. We have Captain Chapman of the Loughborough. 344 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:09,520 Stand by. 345 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,400 Two life rafts observed in the water. 346 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:25,720 Sir, it might not be all the crew. 347 00:22:32,360 --> 00:22:33,959 Orlan's run aground. 348 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:36,919 Um... Prime Minister, 349 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:40,760 the Russian vessel, Orlan, has struck rocks. 350 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,480 There are allegedly multiple bodies in the water. 351 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,079 HMS Loughborough, it has a helicopter on board, 352 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:59,000 is leading a rescue operation. 353 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:03,519 The commanding officer is reporting that conditions 354 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:05,040 are extremely difficult. 355 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,519 Given the weather and the number of people in the water, 356 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:12,920 they are recovering as many as they can. 357 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,120 But we must expect fatalities. 358 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:30,760 The human and political consequences of this are difficult to overstate. 359 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,719 Can we make sure that we are now providing medical 360 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,239 and humanitarian assistance to those Russian sailors 361 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:38,840 whom we have picked up at sea? 362 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:47,519 Could I just, um, interject? 363 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,959 This story is moving really quickly on social media. 364 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,999 People have actual footage of the sailors 365 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,040 being put onto a British warship. 366 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,479 "Not exactly a normal day at sea." 367 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,920 And they also have footage of bodies in the water. 368 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:15,080 So this is already into the bloodstream of social media. 369 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,279 It's really important that we get out there 370 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,799 and start sort of framing our own narrative. 371 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:23,759 If there's a vacuum, they- they'll just start jumping 372 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:25,039 to their own conclusions. 373 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,520 Prime Minister, I'm- I'm really concerned right now. 374 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:30,439 I think we have got a significant window of risk 375 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,559 right now where Russia has the potential to brand the UK 376 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,359 as the aggressor... Mm-hmm. 377 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:37,959 ...and it as the victim. 378 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,719 Because we haven't yet fully explained the incidents 379 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,359 we are dealing with. 380 00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:46,279 We have a risk of this, in public opinion terms, 381 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,360 starting to run in the wrong direction. 382 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:50,639 I agree. 383 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,999 But before we make a statement to the nation, 384 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,479 we need to build up as quickly as possible 385 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,439 the information that makes it clear that this was a tragic accident. 386 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,759 Defence Secretary, what is your reading of the situation? 387 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:07,159 Is there any likelihood that this was a deliberate act? 388 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,919 Well, look, it could be a ship that was on hostile manoeuvres 389 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,839 and has had an accident, 390 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:16,919 or it was on hostile manoeuvres and its job was to run ashore. 391 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:21,039 We should be able to quite quickly gather information 392 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:24,600 to give us a clue as to which of those is the most likely. 393 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:28,239 But I think it is very important that we always have 394 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,080 in the back of the mind that they may be up to something else. 395 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,519 We will treat the Russian crew with dignity. 396 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:38,679 But it is also vital that we have people from the security service, 397 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:40,920 Russian-speaking there ASAP. 398 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,639 We want to make sure that while they're still in a state 399 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,519 where we can get information out of them, that we do. 400 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,119 I'm a little bit concerned about what you just said. 401 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:51,759 These are not prisoners of war. 402 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,839 These are people that have been picked up as part of an accident. 403 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:58,199 And it's really important that the way in which we treat these people 404 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,999 that have been picked up, is understood legally. 405 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,399 Yes. 406 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,919 What is critical, though, is my judgment in this, 407 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:08,479 given other events, 408 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:11,879 all the evidence is pointing to the fact that it is going 409 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:17,679 to be an excuse for a retaliatory attack against the United Kingdom. 410 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:20,799 So the Russians will just be looking as to how they can exploit this? 411 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,799 There are many examples of that in the public domain already. 412 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:26,200 And that is what we need to be focused on. 413 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:40,079 Ooh, we have a Russian broadcast. 414 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,559 Russian news channel have clips of the sinking. 415 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,760 They're not going to like this. 416 00:27:00,360 --> 00:27:03,639 Russian broadcasting had clips of the sinking of Orlan 417 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:05,920 that we can put up in the room now. OK. 418 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,879 Uh, I've just got a media update. 419 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:13,279 This is footage that has just been transmitted on Russian TV. 420 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,199 This afternoon Russian officials have disclosed 421 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,519 that a British Type 23 warship 422 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:24,039 deliberately forced the Russian civilian vessel, Orlan, 423 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,719 off its safe course home, driving it onto rocks. 424 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:29,960 Dozens are already feared dead. 425 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,039 Senior Russian officials are describing what happened 426 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:39,320 as a clear humanitarian offense, tantamount to a declaration of war. 427 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,719 Moscow has called on the wider international community 428 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:47,159 to condemn the United Kingdom's actions. 429 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:56,119 The Russians have used this event in order to paint the United Kingdom 430 00:27:56,120 --> 00:27:58,439 to anyone who is prepared to listen to their propaganda 431 00:27:58,440 --> 00:27:59,919 in the worst possible light. 432 00:27:59,920 --> 00:28:02,119 That's a mouthpiece of the Kremlin. 433 00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:04,840 They have accused us of a declaration of war. 434 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,239 The Russians are, of course, putting out masses 435 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:09,719 of disinformation already. 436 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:11,399 They are playing the victims in this. 437 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:15,639 They are actively calling for the international isolation 438 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,279 of the UK, and that is really bad for us. 439 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,079 There will be people in our own country listening to that. 440 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:25,399 We must say unequivocally that the Loughborough did not, 441 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:27,799 in any way, attack this Russian ship. 442 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:30,679 So much of modern warfare is the information war, 443 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:33,479 and it is who tells their story the best. 444 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:36,799 And right now, being really honest, I think we're just not properly 445 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:39,439 on the pitch, and we've got to get there. 446 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,359 We are very, very close to the public asking, 447 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:45,760 "Where the hell is our government? Who is in charge of this situation?" 448 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,759 The urgency of action is clear. 449 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:56,079 It is important that we make sure that we have our story 450 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:57,359 absolutely straight. 451 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,679 So Ayesha's team will be working on that. 452 00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:03,240 Can we please communicate clearly the reality of the situation? 453 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:09,879 So, the Prime Minister has asked us to get out there 454 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,199 and start framing this Russian ship's story. 455 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,759 Yeah, I'm drafting the press statement right now. 456 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:16,879 I don't personally, if we need to say, 457 00:29:16,880 --> 00:29:19,319 we need to urge the public to remain calm... 458 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:20,799 OK. ...and it would just be 459 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,239 really factual. It's really important to say 460 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,719 that we did not sink that ship. 461 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:29,359 OK, the government is aware of footage circulating on social media, 462 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:31,639 appearing to show a vessel sinking in British waters. 463 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,759 The UK government categorically denies any involvement 464 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,279 in the sinking of the vessel and we urge the public 465 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:38,959 not to share unverified information. 466 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:41,519 The Deputy Prime Minister will update Parliament later today 467 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,559 and will confirm timing shortly. 468 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:58,919 Oh, I feel good, man. 469 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,119 This is my fastest PB I've ever done outside. 470 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:04,800 Still trying to walk. You get up and go in about two hours. 471 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:10,439 Is anybody not realising what's happening? 472 00:30:10,440 --> 00:30:14,119 It's a spy ship, probably a warship, probably armed. 473 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:16,479 It's very hard to know what to believe. 474 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,279 Russia said that they were forced onto the rocks. 475 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:22,839 The UK government's obviously saying they wasn't forced onto the rocks. 476 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:24,560 Either way, one of you's lying. 477 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,519 Hello and welcome to DefenceCast. 478 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:34,439 I'm joined today by UK defence and security expert Ange Mukherjee. 479 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,559 Hi, Tom. So, Ange, people are saying 480 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:39,519 that Russia is spinning the sinking of this Orlan vessel, 481 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:42,839 presenting the UK as the aggressors. So, what's going on here? 482 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:47,119 OK. The Kremlin has been ramping up anti-British rhetoric for years. 483 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:49,959 Officials have described us as enemy number one, 484 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,239 not just for our support for Ukraine, 485 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:54,799 but also because we're a key member of NATO 486 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,159 that's been willing to call out and push back 487 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:58,479 against Russian aggression. 488 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,719 Russian state television paints us as the big bad wolf. 489 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:05,559 And this sinking could be the perfect chance for a false flag 490 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:07,519 that'll make their lies seem real. 491 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:10,440 Well, it's all very worrying and we'll be watching with bated breath. 492 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:23,519 Colleagues, we must move on to how the Russians might choose 493 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:26,839 to escalate this. They have created a pretext 494 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:32,079 for further escalation, and we know that this fits their playbook. 495 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:36,559 If Russia sees or can describe that we sunk a ship, 496 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,079 that may be the excuse that they need 497 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:43,720 to go above the threshold into military activity. 498 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:50,479 OK, we have a window now to deter any future escalation. 499 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:53,159 We have to move the dial on this now, 500 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,639 and this is why the diplomatic effort is so important. 501 00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:00,079 I think we should seriously consider sending a private message 502 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,919 to the Kremlin, setting out what's happened. 503 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:05,399 Yes, I think that a Foreign Secretary 504 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,959 should seek to talk direct to the Kremlin itself. 505 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:10,560 OK, thank you. 506 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:14,599 Just looking forward to communications... 507 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:17,640 Right, they're not kilos, let's find out what they are. 508 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,920 Hello, Zoe speaking. OK, we'll keep an eye on that. 509 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:34,279 OK. 510 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,879 I'm glad we found a chance to talk, 511 00:32:41,880 --> 00:32:44,639 because clearly there is an escalating problem 512 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:46,519 between our two nations. 513 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:51,999 Neither of us wants to escalate this situation to the point 514 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:54,799 where it becomes irreversible. 515 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:58,279 I would rather we came to an agreement 516 00:32:58,280 --> 00:33:02,000 that didn't lead to war between our two great nations. 517 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:19,359 Your vessel, which you claim is a civilian vessel, 518 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:23,519 deliberately entered our territorial water 519 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:25,559 and ran aground. 520 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,119 You will have seen that it was the Royal Navy 521 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,120 who was rescuing Russian citizens. 522 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:39,439 International law would suggest your ship should not be in 523 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,520 our territorial waters. We did not sink your ship. 524 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,519 You should be absolutely certain that the United Kingdom 525 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,919 and our allies will remain resolute 526 00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:36,080 in defending our way of life. 527 00:34:49,520 --> 00:34:52,839 Prime Minister, it's clear that the Russians are locked into 528 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:54,679 a trajectory. 529 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,359 The only concession they're willing to make to us 530 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,999 is if we acknowledge that the captain of the Loughborough 531 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,239 acted outside the chain of command 532 00:35:03,240 --> 00:35:06,279 and deliberately targeted their vessel. 533 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:10,999 They have said that they will see non-compliance in itself 534 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:15,160 as an act of aggression that will require a response. 535 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:18,559 Prime Minister, I wish I could bring you happier news, 536 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,600 but it's a reflection of where we are with the Russians. 537 00:35:22,720 --> 00:35:26,079 We're certainly not going to say that a Royal Navy captain 538 00:35:26,080 --> 00:35:27,879 was operating in a rogue manner 539 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:31,879 and undermined the operations of the Navy and our armed forces 540 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:33,480 when they are protecting us. 541 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:35,799 In my judgment, 542 00:35:35,800 --> 00:35:38,479 it's clear, since we're not going to accept these terms, 543 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:41,360 Russia is setting the conditions for military strikes. 544 00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:50,119 If Russia is minded to mount some sort of campaign against the UK, 545 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,639 then we need to be ready to defend against that. 546 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:56,639 So the sorts of ballistic cruise missiles and drones 547 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:00,600 that you see falling on Kyiv could fall on the UK. 548 00:36:02,440 --> 00:36:06,199 And so we've put together a picture of the assets that we have, 549 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,800 but they're relatively small. 550 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:16,919 I need you all to understand how thinly resourced we are 551 00:36:16,920 --> 00:36:18,200 as a nation here. 552 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:21,639 CDS is absolutely right. 553 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:24,639 I have long raised the issue of the lack of resources we have 554 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:26,080 in terms of defence. 555 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:30,239 I'm gonna keep this really simple. 556 00:36:30,240 --> 00:36:33,399 On current projections, in a war with Russia, 557 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:35,080 we've got about two weeks' fight. 558 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:44,039 We've got to do as much as we can with diplomacy, 559 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,359 because it's better to be talking than fighting. 560 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:50,279 In that case, we need rapidly to ascertain 561 00:36:50,280 --> 00:36:53,319 which of our allies might come to our defence? 562 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:56,439 We have enough evidence to say that we could well have 563 00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:59,039 a retaliatory attack. 564 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,919 It would be very useful to have spoken to the United States. 565 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,759 Foreign Secretary, can I ask that you coordinate a call 566 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:07,679 with the US Secretary of State? OK. 567 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:08,920 Thank you, Jim. 568 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:29,919 Welcome to DefenceCast. 569 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:33,559 So, worst-case scenario, Ange, if things were to escalate 570 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:36,559 into a conflict with Russia, how prepared are we? 571 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:39,599 Well, Tom, we've not really prioritised our ability to fight 572 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:42,919 a major conflict since the end of the Cold War. 573 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:45,079 Successive governments took the peace dividend. 574 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:46,799 They cut defence spending. 575 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,679 Post 9-11, the focus was counter-terrorism. 576 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:52,879 So right now, we don't have the capacity to sustain a fight. 577 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:56,160 Remember last year how the Defence Secretary resigned over... 578 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,079 Normally I would just ignore the news when I'm away, but... 579 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:03,119 it's getting a bit serious. 580 00:38:03,120 --> 00:38:04,839 That's the last thing we want. 581 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:07,799 The last couple of years, all what's been going on with, uh... 582 00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:10,319 in this country, we want it nice and calm, really. 583 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:14,520 I'm not being funny. I don't want to deal with it. 584 00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:27,079 Hello, Secretary of State. Great to see you again. 585 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:28,519 Thank you for making time. 586 00:38:28,520 --> 00:38:31,999 I'm obviously here to listen on behalf of the president. 587 00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:34,959 You'll be aware that the United Kingdom has had 588 00:38:34,960 --> 00:38:38,800 a Russian vessel enter our territorial waters. 589 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:44,439 It has hit some rocks, and sadly, there's been loss of life. 590 00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:48,679 The Russians are alleging that we have provoked them 591 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:52,079 into an escalation of war. 592 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:53,479 This, as you know, 593 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:57,599 is part of a regular Russian pattern of behaviour, 594 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,599 a series of false flags and provocations. 595 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:03,239 I will tell you that the president appreciates all that. 596 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:06,279 I should also be upfront with you to let you know, 597 00:39:06,280 --> 00:39:08,600 I have already talked to the Kremlin... 598 00:39:10,680 --> 00:39:14,040 ...and obviously their story is somewhat different. 599 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:17,760 You've already spoken with Russia? 600 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:22,280 And, you know, the president is partial to the Russian president. 601 00:39:23,080 --> 00:39:25,639 Russia is clearly the aggressor. 602 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,879 If the shoe was on the other foot, 603 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,439 we would rally to the United States defence. 604 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:33,920 I think we need to let more facts unfold. 605 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:40,040 And so, it's really our intent to try to be neutral here. 606 00:39:45,880 --> 00:39:50,279 I'm not sure how our closest ally on the planet 607 00:39:50,280 --> 00:39:55,520 at a time of our need can say that it wishes to stay neutral. 608 00:39:56,280 --> 00:39:58,639 Well, listen, we're in a neutral position 609 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:00,559 for a number of different reasons, 610 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:02,719 but I think the President of the United States 611 00:40:02,720 --> 00:40:07,519 is trying to send a message: let this European issue 612 00:40:07,520 --> 00:40:09,920 be one that's resolved by the Europeans. 613 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:15,919 I do have to go. I've got another meeting pending. 614 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:18,599 But let's keep an open line of communication. 615 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:20,079 We'll speak again soon. 616 00:40:20,080 --> 00:40:21,479 OK. All... Thank you. 617 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:23,040 All the best. All the best. 618 00:40:25,720 --> 00:40:27,120 Fuck. 619 00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:30,639 Is it the Attorney General has said... 620 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:33,399 We haven't got that as yet, so we can give you that information 621 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:34,599 when we get it... OK. 622 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:37,079 It's really important we get the surviving Russian sailors 623 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:38,959 off the Loughborough. Yes, confirmed. 624 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:41,039 All remaining individuals from the Orlan 625 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:42,959 have been collected by the Coast Guard. 626 00:40:42,960 --> 00:40:45,400 OK. Let's keep an eye on the vicinity of the Loughborough. 627 00:40:46,280 --> 00:40:49,959 We've just got the undersea sensors in the Southern Norwegian Sea. 628 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:51,599 Nothing seen on the radar. 629 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:53,920 Any changes on here, we'll let you know. 630 00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:06,000 Prime Minister, we have a very, very serious problem. 631 00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:11,279 The US Secretary of State had already spoken 632 00:41:11,280 --> 00:41:13,760 to my opposite number in the Kremlin. 633 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:19,960 The Secretary of State said that they will remain neutral. 634 00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:24,719 He spoke to the Kremlin first, before us. 635 00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:25,759 Hmm. 636 00:41:25,760 --> 00:41:29,319 That positioning from the US is the most telling symbol 637 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:30,800 of where we are at. 638 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:37,199 Well, that leaves the United Kingdom in a very difficult position. 639 00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:42,120 And to have such a stark response is chilling. 640 00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:53,560 Got two spikes undersea sensors. 641 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:59,880 Sirs, you're gonna want to have a look at the sensors over here. 642 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:04,039 OK. This could be anything. 643 00:42:04,040 --> 00:42:06,919 But what we want to do is get a P-8 aircraft airborne 644 00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:08,480 and hunting it. Yep. 645 00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:12,759 Lossiemouth, this is Watch Keeper. 646 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:16,679 Request P-8 aircraft to conduct area search and track. 647 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,519 What could the spikes be? 648 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:22,199 It's, it's- It could be marine noise, but it... 649 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:25,040 You know, it could be a spike from a nuclear submarine. 650 00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:34,119 The issue now is Russia has decided to use this as a pretext 651 00:42:34,120 --> 00:42:37,759 for isolating and very likely damaging the UK. 652 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:41,519 Having assured that the US is keeping out of the way. 653 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:43,119 This is a moment of great jeopardy. 654 00:42:43,120 --> 00:42:46,799 I doubt I need to remind this room, but in a war with Russia, 655 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:49,159 there's no safety net, there are no guarantees, 656 00:42:49,160 --> 00:42:50,679 there's no script. 657 00:42:50,680 --> 00:42:53,439 If the might of the Russian military is focused on the UK 658 00:42:53,440 --> 00:42:54,879 and we're on our own, 659 00:42:54,880 --> 00:42:58,399 their ability to hurt us is considerably greater 660 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,200 than our ability to hurt them. 661 00:43:06,120 --> 00:43:07,160 Sirs? 662 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:10,919 We have what looks like projectiles in the direction 663 00:43:10,920 --> 00:43:15,359 of the Loughborough. 2,500 metres and enclosing. 664 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:17,919 Do we know what speed that contact's doing? 665 00:43:17,920 --> 00:43:20,800 Not yet, sir. But it looks as though there's two of them. 666 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:24,680 Right, well, I mean, that looks like a torpedo. 667 00:43:27,440 --> 00:43:30,359 Loughborough's moving. Is Loughborough taking action? 668 00:43:30,360 --> 00:43:31,759 What's going on? 669 00:43:31,760 --> 00:43:34,999 Significant sharp turning from the live feed from the bow. 670 00:43:35,000 --> 00:43:37,079 OK, Loughborough taking evasive action. 671 00:43:37,080 --> 00:43:41,679 Torpedo at 6591, and it's at 2,000 metres. 672 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:45,119 And we have a second one. It's at 2,500. 673 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:47,239 They're heading towards the Loughborough. 674 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:48,400 OK. 675 00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:51,519 TDS. 676 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:54,319 It looks like the Loughborough's been fired out with two torpedoes. 677 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:56,799 We got a whiff of a submarine in the South Norwegian Sea. 678 00:43:56,800 --> 00:43:58,679 Now it looks like we've got two torpedoes 679 00:43:58,680 --> 00:44:00,159 heading towards the Loughborough. 680 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:01,759 How many people do we have on that ship? 681 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:03,800 So, the crew of that ship will be about 200. 682 00:44:06,600 --> 00:44:08,720 There are some images coming through. 683 00:44:09,480 --> 00:44:11,960 So that is our frigate? This is the Loughborough. 684 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,919 Second torpedo, 1,000 metres. 1,000 metres, yeah. 685 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:23,159 You've got the live feed? I've got the live feed. 686 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:24,759 No change to live feed at the moment. 687 00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:25,919 OK. 688 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:28,399 I'm afraid to say it, that might be the quickest way 689 00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:30,039 to know whether or not they get struck. 690 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:31,200 Yeah, of course. 691 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:36,880 Impact! 692 00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:41,360 Oh, my God! 693 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:48,120 Signal loss from the Loughborough. Yeah. No pictures. 694 00:44:55,200 --> 00:44:58,719 Prime Minister, this attack on the HMS Loughborough 695 00:44:58,720 --> 00:45:01,559 will have come from a Russian submarine. 696 00:45:01,560 --> 00:45:03,679 We must assume the loss of that ship, 697 00:45:03,680 --> 00:45:06,319 and there will have been casualties. 698 00:45:06,320 --> 00:45:08,520 This is unequivocally an act of war. 699 00:45:15,080 --> 00:45:19,439 British sailors are dead. We have to strike back ASAP. 700 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:20,799 Sink the submarine, do it now. 701 00:45:20,800 --> 00:45:22,999 No, no, doing nothing isn't an option. 702 00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:25,519 There is a penalty to this kind of behaviour. 703 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:27,439 Nothing is off the table. 704 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:30,239 The largest loss of British military life 705 00:45:30,240 --> 00:45:33,159 in a single day since the Second World War. 706 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:36,159 The President of the United States is furious. 707 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:38,359 The President of the United States has posted. 708 00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:40,519 This isn't good. We're standing alone. 709 00:45:40,520 --> 00:45:42,039 Our nation is under attack. 710 00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:43,399 Oh my God, run! 711 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:44,959 Impact! impact! 712 00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:53,200 Subtitles by Sky Access Services www.skyaccessibility.sky