Russia warns Britain over use of UK-made drones in attacks on Russian territory
Russia accused the United Kingdom of escalating the Ukraine conflict after British drones were used in strikes inside Russia, while the British Ministry of Defence said it remains committed to supporting Ukraine.
Russia’s embassy in London said the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of “bloody crimes and terrorist attacks” after British-made drones were confirmed to have been used in strikes on Russian targets. The statement warned that deeper British involvement would “carry consequences” and increase the “price” Britain would have to pay.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told the BBC that Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine and is “committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against … Putin’s illegal invasion.”
The drones, produced by two separate British firms, have been employed in attacks on Russian military and industrial sites, including refineries and warehouses belonging to the online retailer Wildberries. Ukrainian forces claim the strikes have disabled most of the company’s major logistics centres and caused economic damage estimated at more than £35 billion.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the drones, which incorporate UK components, were used in attacks on a fuel depot in the Rostov region and other locations. The warning follows a recent wave of Ukrainian drone attacks that killed nine people and injured 23 in Russia, and a large-scale launch of 822 drones, 600 of them aimed at Moscow, which resulted in seven deaths. Russian retaliatory strikes on Ukraine on the same night killed at least seven people and injured more than 39.