• New head of the British Army issues rallying cry to troops.
• Gen Patrick Sanders tells them they must be ready to face Russia on the battlefield.
• Message was sent to all ranks and civil servants on 16 June. Defence source says tone of message unsurprising.

The new commander of the British Army has issued a rallying cry to troops; telling them that they must be prepared to fight Russia on the battlefield.

In an internal message seen by the BBC on June 16, General Sir Patrick Sanders; who took office last week, addressed all ranks and civil servants.

He claims that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the need “to protect the UK and be ready to fight and win land wars.”

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He goes on to say that the Army and its allies must now be “capable of defeating Russia.”

The tone of the message, which was posted on the Ministry of Defence’s internal intranet, was unsurprising; according to a defence source.

They claimed that all armies train to fight, but the threat has changed dramatically.

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