Britain is ill-prepared for a Russian attack. Last week's emergency alert did not help - Michael McManus

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As the war situation deteriorates, Russia may conclude that a direct strike on Nato is needed, writes the Director of Research at the Henry Jackson Society

Last week, we all got a shock when the emergency text hit our phones. But maybe a worse shock is yet to come.

This week, Russia threatened the UK with "consequences" after Ukraine used British-built drones to attack Russian targets. While it may sound like a bluff, consider how much Russia has its back against the wall.

Russia has lost over a million men dead or wounded since the war began. Its economy is on its knees due to sanctions.

Add to that fuel shortages and soaring energy costs, and the population is on edge. Even in a society like Putin's Russia, public dissent is potentially dangerous.

Putin has become increasingly paranoid and desperate in recent weeks. As the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Thanks to Nato support, Ukraine cannot be defeated, and Russia knows it. As the war situation deteriorates, Russia may conclude that a direct strike on Nato is needed.

For years it has probed us with cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns, but perhaps next time something more urgent than deepfakes will come our way.

Britain is far from safe should Russia decide to escalate. Russian submarines lurk off our shorelines, close to undersea cables on which our economy and communications depend.

Hackers linked to Russia are, unfortunately, some of the best in the world, and could damage our critical infrastructure, such as power stations.

Drones from Russia have zigzagged over our airports, and last week, Russian drones loaded with explosives were found at a German airport. Unlike Britain, Russia is in a state of total war. Escalation is natural.

Unfortunately, Britain is ill-prepared to defend against Russia should an attack come our way. Last week's emergency text did not help.

Should Russia act, there is every chance people would be slow to react. With sighs and headshakes, we would bemoan another test.

But Russian hackers reportedly hacked Ukraine's air raid alert app, and this expertise would be used against us.

Perhaps Russian hackers will send out an emergency text disguised as yet another test. Then, with our guard down, Russia strikes for real. Drone bombs at Heathrow. NHS hospital systems locked. Power outages across the Midlands. The "consequences" finally arrive.

The emergency text test last week proved to be more annoying than helpful. But like the boy who cried wolf, one day a real danger will come along, and people will not react until it is too late.