As tension with Russia rises, ex-NATO officers said it's time to 'wake up' and consider conscription immediately to have thousands of soldiers ready to counter the growing threat of Vladimir Putin's military. The UK's dwindling military has sparked alarm among experts in national security as Starmer warned that allies were 'ready to deploy' in Ukraine . One former commander has sounded the alarm, warning that the country would effectively be defenceless were Putin to launch a direct attack.