BFBS Sitrep

The compensation system for injured service personnel has been accused of ‘lacking humanity’ after an assessment panel was heard laughing at a claimant. A veteran turned journalist tells BFBS Sitrep it’s far from a one off, as the government promises improvements. Defence Intelligence has a new chief, and for the first time it’s a civilian. We ask if that matters as we investigate the job of...

When Russia invaded Ukraine we thought it would probably be over in days. That was 6 months ago. So how, and when will it end? BFBS Sitrep gets the assessments of experienced military minds, the Armed Forces Minister, and our own Professor Michael Clarke. Thousands of Afghans who worked with British Forces were promised new lives in the UK, but a year on many are still in limbo living in hote...

Former Royal Marine H Collins led the last diplomatic team out Kabul’s green zone as the Taliban marched on the city. He was responsible for the safety of Japan’s top diplomats, and dozens of colleagues. But hours after getting them to his security company’s HQ they were surrounded, and then had to choose between fighting their way out or negotiating with insurgents wearing suicide vests. He share...

The EU is hosting crisis talks, trying to prevent a new conflict between Serbia and Kosovo. NATO’s KFOR mission, including British troops, still has a UN peacekeeping mandate in Kosovo but what could trigger their intervention? Has the balance of power shifted in favour of Ukraine, as Russia takes two significant hits in annexed Crimea? A former Commanding General of the US Army Europe gives us hi...

12 months since the Taliban swept back into power BFBS Sitrep assesses what the return of the militants has meant for our security, the people of Afghanistan, and those who had worked for Britain but could not escape. Despite Taliban promises not to shelter international terrorists the head of Al Qaeda was found in Kabul, and killed last week by the US, so does Afghanistan pose a threat to the UK...

Journalist Lynne O’Donnell gives us a rare first-hand insight into how the Taliban is operating in Afghanistan. That insight has come at a cost, her life threatened as she was detained by officials, despite entering Afghanistan with a media visa. She tells BFBS Sitrep how it was deeply frightening and yet ‘darkly satirical’, revealing incompetence and chaos.

China says it will punish those who offend it as it launches live fire military drills off the coast of Taiwan. Sitrep looks at China’s tactics and how the United States is responding.   What role are cyber attacks playing in the war in Ukraine? And what are the lessons for the UK? Sitrep speaks to the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, Ciaran Martin, who also discusses t...

China has just overtaken counter-terrorism as the biggest effort inside MI6, and the head of the Royal Navy says China is a bigger long term threat than Russia. BFBS Sitrep examines a list of top level warnings issued this week about the risk of conflict with China, and asks if Ukraine has taken our eye off the ball. As Ukraine tries to retake the port city of Kherson we talk to an MP who’s just v...

In less than a year war has broken out in Europe, and Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban. MPs say that means the UK’s new defence masterplan is already out of date, leaving British forces overstretched, vulnerable and too small. They Ministry of Defence says it will continue to adapt strategy, but the Commons Defence Committee wants a major update to the plan now. The committee’s chairman, Tobi...

Scientists have spent years researching concepts including laser weapons and brain sensors for a new RAF plane called ‘Tempest’. Now ministers want those ideas turned into a working plane in just 5 years, but is it a gamble with the UK’s air capability? As British service personnel are banned from buying sex overseas BFBS Sitrep hears how brothels used to be unofficial parts of UK bases abroad. An...

The early days of the campaign to succeed Boris Johnson have seen a bidding war on defence spending from those hoping to replace him. BFBS Sitrep assess the defence legacy Mr Johnson will leave his successor and the challenges they’ll face. A former head of the Army tells us what he wants from whoever becomes the next Prime Minister. We also hear from two very different cities in Ukraine as we ass...

Although cases of people serving in the armed forces taking their own lives are low – among men in the army the figures have been rising in recent years. Among some very specific groups of veterans the risk of suicide appears to be much higher – particularly younger men who only served a short time in the forces. As the government carries out research to understand why, BFBS Sitrep talks to a lead...

The head of the Army has told his troops that they have a new main effort – Operation Mobilise. We’ll examine the plan for more of the Army to be ready more of the time for a high intensity war, and what that means for servicemen and women. NATO wants to make its high-readiness force more than seven times bigger, up to 300,000 troops, in little more than a year. But can it deliver? The diplomatic...

The new Chief of General Staff has written to all soldiers saying they must be prepared to fight in Europe and defeat Russia in battle – so are we not ready for that right now? The internal letter has reached much further – BFBS Sitrep assesses its impact in Westminster, across the continent, and in the Kremlin. The Dutch Prime Minister has apologised to his country’s peacekeepers who were sent on...

Ukraine says it urgently needs more weapons and ammunition from the west. BFBS Sitrep speaks to journalist Nicola Smith who’s on the ground near the biggest battleground and tells us about the tragedy unfolding in front of her. Professor Michael Clark explains why although weapons are on the way they won’t make an immediate difference. In Finland our reporter is with a Joint Expeditionary Force ex...

40 years on from the liberation of the Falklands BFBS Sitrep hears the story of the final hours from those who were there – and examines the lessons of the conflict. The man who marched 3 Commando Brigade across miles of mud tells us how logistic difficulties left ammunition in the wrong place at the wrong time, putting individual operations on hold. The war might have been avoided if Britain hadn...

3 months after invading Ukraine, Russia appears to be on the brink of its first significant strategic victory – taking the whole of Luhansk province. Is this a turning point in the war, and is Ukraine now fighting a losing battle in that territory? BFBS Sitrep also digs into what the public at large are asking about the war – and Professor Michael Clarke will provide answers. Ukraine’s food export...

The daring amphibious landings of thousands of British troops was arguably the most perilous and pivotal moment of the Falklands war. 40 years on BFBS Sitrep hears from key figures about how and why it enabled the liberation of the islands. But at sea 22 lives were lost in the operation, the man who was Captain of HMS Ardent tells us the story of its sinking, and how it still occasionally gives hi...

Commander Alan West was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his pivotal role in the Falklands war. His ship HMS Ardent was sunk with the loss of 22 lives – but it helped the thousands of troops who liberated the islands get safely ashore. Even as the crew battled fires and tended the wounded the ship sailed to more open waters, to draw out the Argentine fighter jets. Now Admiral Lord West,...

Finland has entered a ‘grey zone’, defying Russia to apply for NATO membership, but not yet covered by the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees. Hours before the announcement the UK signed a mutual security agreement with Finland – so what is the risk we’ll be called on to defend the country before it becomes a NATO member? As we analyse the latest developments in the Ukraine war we’ll explain why...

We know all too well what Russia’s invasion is doing to Ukraine – the catastrophic loss of lives, the physical devastation, and also the national resolve to fight back. But what is this war doing to Russia? BFBS Sitrep assesses the UK’s latest claim that Russia’s military is now significantly weaker for the long term. We also look at the financial hit to its economy and how could that affect the K...

Boris Johnson has just done a new defence deal with India – which imports most of its military hardware from Russia and won’t condemn the invasion of Ukraine. BFBS Sitrep examines why India’s sitting on the fence over Europe’s biggest conflict since WW2, and asks why it’s worth the UK making this deal. Professor of Defence Studies Michael Clarke assesses whether the Ukraine conflict could be sprea...

The Ukraine war has moved into phase 2, but will it be a turning point for a Russian campaign that’s had no real success so far? Instead of trying to take the whole country at once, Moscow’s forces are now concentrated on taking the East. We’ll hear from close to the new 300 mile battlefront and explain why the Donbas region has always been at the very heart of this war. And Marine Le Pen is in to...

From the size and location of massive Russian convoys, to the serial numbers of missiles used in strikes, we all have access to unprecedented detail of the Ukraine war. An army of amateur analysts are gathering, checking and sharing OSINT - Open Source Intelligence - which details the fight as it happens. One of them tells us how and why he does it. Finland and Sweden could be weeks away from appl...

By day Kyle Glen works an office job for a clinical research company. By night he gathers and analyses intelligence that can reveal the truth about wars around the world, and debunk fake news. Kyle is one of a growing army of amateur analysts working on OSINT (open-source intelligence) – which he shares on the @ConflictNews twitter account, and the OSINT Bunker podcast. In this extra edition of BF...