Growing number of Britons expect war to reach UK within two years

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, August 19, 2026

A government survey found that 28 percent of Britons now believe war is likely to reach the UK within two years, up from 19 percent last year. Despite growing fears linked to increased Russian military activity, most households remain underprepared for emergencies, with only a small fraction visiting official preparedness resources or maintaining sufficient supplies.

A recent government survey reveals that more than a quarter of Britons expect the possibility of war reaching the United Kingdom within the next two years. Conducted for the Cabinet Office and completed by May 2026, the poll found that 28 percent of respondents believe military conflict is likely or very likely to affect their local area by 2028, marking a significant increase from 19 percent in the previous year.

The survey, which included over 10,000 participants, aimed to assess public awareness of national emergencies. While concerns about natural disasters such as storms, flooding, power outages, and cyberattacks remain high, anxiety over the prospect of war impacting the UK saw the sharpest rise between 2025 and 2026.

This surge in worry comes amid heightened activities by Russian forces, described as "grey zone" tactics, including increased patrols by Vladimir Putin’s so-called shadow fleet in the English Channel and surveillance operations targeting Britain’s undersea communications cables. These developments have contributed to a growing public perception of rising threat levels.

Overall, 68 percent of those surveyed anticipate that the risk of emergencies and disasters will escalate over the next two years. Despite this, only 14 percent reported having visited the government’s Prepare website, which provides guidance on household emergency readiness, including preparation for natural disasters, power failures, and wartime scenarios.

Among the small proportion who accessed this resource, about 75 percent took steps recommended on the site, such as acquiring battery-powered or wind-up radios and assembling other essential supplies. However, readiness levels appear limited across the wider population. Approximately 40 percent of respondents said their household could sustain basic needs like food and bottled water for up to three days without outside assistance. Only 12 percent believed they had enough provisions to last six days or longer, while a quarter estimated they could manage for just one day before requiring support.

Additionally, 19 percent of individuals reported having a designated "grab bag" containing emergency supplies for quick evacuation situations. Financial constraints were identified as a significant barrier to preparedness efforts, with 29 percent of those surveyed citing a lack of money as the main reason they were unable to take further protective measures.

The findings underscore a gap between rising public concern about national security threats and the practical steps taken at the household level to prepare for various emergency scenarios.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.