UK Revives ‘War Book’, Urges Families To Stockpile Food As Europe Faces Russian Threat

The United Kingdom has urged households to keep stocks of food and drinking water at home as part of preparations for major national emergencies, including cyberattacks, extreme weather, infrastructure disruption and potential conflict.

The preparedness campaign comes amid growing concern across Europe over Russia’s military activities and alleged hybrid operations targeting Western countries.

The British government is also working on an updated version of its so-called “war book,” a contingency planning document designed to guide the country’s response to major national security emergencies.

However, the government has stressed that its household preparedness campaign is not an indication that war with Russia is imminent. The wider objective is to ensure households can cope with serious disruption while emergency services and authorities focus on the most vulnerable.

The UK’s 2026 National Risk Register identifies a range of serious risks facing the country, while the government’s latest public preparedness survey found that 85 per cent of respondents reported having at least three days’ supply of non-perishable food at home.

The renewed focus on civil preparedness comes as European governments strengthen their defences amid concerns about Russia’s war in Ukraine and the possibility of hybrid attacks involving drones, cyber operations, sabotage and disinformation.

In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament on September 17 that intelligence assessments indicated Russia could carry out hybrid drone and missile attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, including Poland.

Tusk warned that such attacks could be presented as accidents in an attempt to weaken NATO’s response and test the alliance’s commitment to collective defence.

“There is a real risk that the territory of one or several NATO countries on the eastern flank may be entered by drones or other types of missiles,” Tusk told lawmakers.

He said late autumn and winter could be a particularly critical period and accused Russia of already conducting what he described as a hybrid war involving drones, sabotage and online disinformation.

The Polish government said intelligence assessments pointed to possible attacks against countries supporting Ukraine, while Poland was strengthening security infrastructure in response to the evolving threat.

The developments have also prompted wider discussions across Europe about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, including electricity networks, telecommunications, transport systems, energy facilities and digital infrastructure.

Germany has similarly been strengthening civil-defence and emergency preparedness as European governments reassess their ability to respond to disruptions ranging from cyberattacks and sabotage to a possible wider military confrontation.

Britain, meanwhile, has increased its involvement in NATO’s eastern-flank defence while continuing military support for Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence has maintained that Britain does not seek confrontation but is prepared to defend NATO territory alongside its allies.

The government’s preparedness message is therefore broader than conventional war planning.

Households are being encouraged to maintain basic supplies and consider how they would cope if electricity, water, communications or other essential services were disrupted for several days.

The approach reflects a growing European emphasis on civilian resilience, with governments increasingly treating cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure as potential components of modern conflict.

For Britain, the immediate message is preparedness rather than an announcement that war is about to begin.