UK-Russia military hotline breakdown since Ukraine war weighs heavy on top British Admiral
breakdown raises strategic alarm
UK Chief of Defence Staff
Admiral Tony Radakin
told the House of Commons Defence Committee he regrets the breakdown of direct military communications with Russia, specifically referencing the loss of a previously active hotline with Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov. 'I used to have calls with General Gerasimov,' Radakin said during the June 10 session.
He noted that he and then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had spoken with Gerasimov around February 11, 2022, just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine. The communication occurred through a dedicated military hotline between the UK Ministry of Defence and the Russian General Staff's Situation Centre. According to defense officials, the hotline had been tested daily for functionality and reserved for urgent crisis communication.
Despite escalating tensions with Russia, the UK has maintained strong ties with Ukraine, with UK Defence Chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin meeting his Ukrainian and French counterparts in Kyiv in April, 2025 to discuss the structure and size of an international "reassurance force" to support any future peace deal.
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That channel was effectively discontinued after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. No further call logs or tests have been reported since, suggesting that the mil-to-mil link between the UK and Russia was severed.
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'In a dangerous world, not having those mil-to-mil communications - that's a regret,' Radakin said.
Hotline served as
strategic de-escalation tool
before breakdown
The UK-Russia hotline was not just symbolic. It served as a crucial crisis-management tool during escalating tensions between the two nuclear powers. The daily-tested line ensured that high-level commanders could resolve potential misunderstandings quickly.
In addition to the February 2022 contact, the channel was reportedly used again in October 2022, when Radakin and Gerasimov spoke following Russia's public allegations that Ukraine was preparing to use a 'dirty bomb.' That exchange was part of broader efforts to clarify intent and prevent dangerous misinterpretations. Officials on both sides acknowledged the importance of such conversations in avoiding miscalculation.
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Despite this interaction, no sustained military dialogue resumed after 2022. With the hotline's eventual collapse, the UK lost the capacity to initiate direct communication with Russia's military command during periods of heightened risk.
Loss of UK-Russia military communication raises escalation risks
Admiral Radakin's concern reflects broader NATO anxieties about losing critical 'deconfliction' tools amid ongoing global instability. With no direct UK–Russia military channel in place, misunderstandings during operations near Eastern Europe, the Black Sea, or NATO airspace could escalate quickly.
'Not having those mil-to-mil communications' has become more consequential as both sides engage in active and indirect conflicts worldwide. Although some diplomatic channels remain open, military-to-military discussions, especially for crisis prevention, are not currently functional.
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As global tensions rise and armed conflict continues in Ukraine, the breakdown of this once-active military hotline underscores the growing strategic risk. For now, Radakin and other UK officials must rely on NATO or multilateral frameworks for any engagement with Russia's armed forces.
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