Britain's new £3.2billion aircraft carrier has stocked up on ammunition and increased its 'readiness' after a Ukrainian military chief claimed 'World War Three had begun'.
However, it comes amid a chilling claim by a Ukrainian military chief that the world was already in the middle of an all-out conflict, as the war between Russia and Ukraine escalated to new, terrifying heights this week. The military chief said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.'
More than 8,000 Iranian-developed drones have been launched since the war began two-and-a-half years ago, Kyiv said in September, with many targeting civilian homes as well as military targets. Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told a ceremony in Kyiv : 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.'A Ukrainian officer examines a downed Shahed drone with thermobaric charge launched by Russia in a research laboratory in an undisclosed location in Ukraine
However, the veteran Royal Marine commando's declaration belies the state of the UK's military capabilities. Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, faced uncertainty this week over claims one of the mighty vessels could be 'mothballed'. Quizzed on whether one of the aircraft carriers would be mothballed as part of a major review of the military, Mr Healey said: 'They are under scrutiny but not in jeopardy.
Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Fury as Labour unveils huge defence cuts as Putin threatens WW3: Helicopters, ships and drones axed While despite the domination of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield, the UK is to lose a staggering 46 Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles . One senior naval figure remarked: 'Try telling Donald Trump these helicopters and ships were getting old and were costing more to repair, he'll only hear that Britain is making cuts'.