Deborah Haynes

Out now, The Wargame, a podcast series that simulates a Russian attack on the UK We imagine it's October 2025 Russia deploys a task force of ships, jets & submarines to the North Atlantic. The UK is in missile range. The PM calls an emergency Cobra meeting podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

Should people in Britain be preparing for war? The government is putting the armed forces on a war footing but a lot less has been said about readying everyone else as well Sky's @haynesdeborah reports trib.al/Ol2oIKv

The government has yet to issue public guidance on how to ready the whole of society for potential war, despite warning almost a year ago of the need to "actively prepare". Discussions on homeland defence and wider national resilience and readiness are understood to be taking place behind closed doors. But a network of local authorities and voluntary organisations that would play a key role in every part of the country should the UK ever come under armed attack appears to be largely in the dark about what they should be doing to better prepare. Sky News has spoken to a number of experts who say that local resilience forums - the regional bodies that are responsible for supporting communities in any kind of emergency, from floods to conflict - need to become a lot more familiar with wartime planning. Such a move though would require direction and coordination from the Cabinet Office and additional money from the Treasury. Local government budgets are already stretched and - depending upon the level of government ambition - rebuilding the country's civil preparedness for potential conflict would require a whole new area of expertise, training and responsibility. This is not an alien concept, however ⬇️ news.sky.com/story/governme…

Exclusive: An RAF jet carrying the defence secretary was hit by an electronic warfare attack after flying near the Russian border John Healey was travelling home from southeast Estonia when the satellite signal on his government aircraft was knocked out

Thank you for being such a fantastic boss with an incredible instinct for a story - typically well before any of the competition. Huge good luck on your next adventure 💪

Our intelligence services reported receiving data, including from American and European partners, about Russia preparing a strike with the Oreshnik missile. We are verifying this information. We are seeing signs of preparation for a combined strike on Ukrainian territory, including Kyiv, involving various types of weaponry. The specified intermediate-range weapons could be used in such a strike. It is important to act responsibly on air-raid alerts, starting this evening. Russian madness truly knows no bounds, so please protect your lives – use shelters. Second, we are drawing the attention of our partners in the United States and in Europe to the fact that the use of such weapons and the prolongation of this war also sets a global precedent for other potential aggressors. If Russia is allowed to destroy lives on such a scale, then no agreement will restrain other similar hatred-based regimes from aggression and strikes. We count on a response from the world – and on a response that is not post factum, but preventive. Pressure must be put on Moscow so that it does not expand the war. Third, we are preparing our air defense as much as possible, and we will respond fully justly to every Russian strike. We have given permission for a parade, but Russia has no permission for madness. This war must be ended – we need peace, not some missiles satisfying the sick ambitions of one individual. I thank everyone helping to protect lives. Once again, please take care of yourselves and use shelters tonight.

A senior @RoyalAirForce officer explains why the Red Arrows and their ageing jets will be flying as a 7 instead of a 9 for air displays until at least 2030. "This is simply to help us better manage the final few years of service of the team's famous Hawk T1 aircraft"

Analysis from Security and Defence Editor @haynesdeborah | The UK appears poised to increase spending on defence after the foreign secretary said everyone must "face up to the need to do much more" to counter a "reckless" Russia trib.al/hOceqlc

The UK appears poised to increase spending on defence after the foreign secretary said everyone must "face up to the need to do much more" to counter a "reckless" Russia. news.sky.com/story/war-loss…

The Red Arrows team has begun to rotate the use of its remaining engines for its ageing jets, with the full formation of nine only flying on significant occasions, reports @haynesdeborah @SkyNews This comes a week after Aeralis trainer jets go bust news.sky.com/story/red-arro…

War losses making Russia 'reckless and dangerous' NATO warned as UK signals defence spending boost Analysis by security and defence editor @haynesdeborah trib.al/TdEX8ba

EXCLUSIVE: Red Arrows to fly with reduced numbers because of ageing engines trib.al/1fjQ8A5

Coming next for Great Britain: The Red Arrow.

🚨The Red Arrows will fly with just seven aircraft rather than nine for the majority of displays until at least 2030 because their engines are so old, @SkyNews understands news.sky.com/story/red-arro…

The UK needs to spend 'much more' on defence, Yvette Cooper signals after meeting NATO foreign ministers. It follows reporting from @haynesdeborah on how British troops played out a wargame from the London Underground, simulating a mock war with Russia 📺trib.al/NSnqZm2

British soldiers are fighting a Russian invasion from a platform on the London Underground in a wargame that reveals the UK must invest much more in defence - or risk defeat Security and Defence Editor @haynesdeborah reports trib.al/lBdnQxk

BREAKING: Foreign Secretary @YvetteCooperMP has strongly signalled that the UK will increase defence spending even further, saying “any lingering cosy assumptions about our defence and security are gone. So too is the post-Cold War peace dividend”. She said the UK must "face up to the need to do much more so we properly protect our citizens". Speaking after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Ms Cooper said: “We discussed in the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting how Russia’s weakening on the battlefield against Ukraine is also making them more reckless and dangerous. “In the face of that threat and the ongoing global instability, the NATO Alliance is vital and enduring, but within it Europe and the UK must do more. We have already been stepping up with significantly increased defence investment. But we have to face up to the need to do much more so we properly protect our citizens. “Russia is now under huge pressure from Ukraine’s military response and from economic challenges, but that is making them more unpredictable with escalating attacks on Ukrainian civilians, increasing hybrid threats across the continent, and reports of drone incursions. The threat from Russia is increasing on air, land, sea, space, cyber and information warfare. “Any lingering cosy assumptions about our defence and security are gone. So too is the post-Cold War peace dividend. “That’s why we need to keep increasing our defence and security capabilities and maintain our support for Ukraine. NATO is the most successful defensive alliance in history and now we need to keep building a stronger Europe within NATO. The safety, stability and prosperity of our citizens depends upon it.”

🚨British soldiers are fighting a Russian invasion from a platform on the London Underground in a wargame that reveals the UK must invest much more in defence - or risk defeat... news.sky.com/story/british-…

Sky's @haynesdeborah goes inside a British Army wargame beneath the streets of London, where British soldiers are fighting a Russian invasion from a platform on the London Underground. Read the full report: trib.al/Q17y6Hl

Scoop: The Trump admin is planning to tell NATO allies this week that it will shrink the pool of military capabilities the US would have available to assist European nations in a major crisis, like an invasion of a NATO member, sources said w @JonathanLanday @andrew_r_gray

BREAKING: An RAF reconnaissance plane was "repeatedly and dangerously intercepted" by two Russian fighter jets last month, the Ministry of Defence has said. @HaynesDeborah has the latest ⬇️ Read more: trib.al/dRD5uhX 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube