Russia threatens the UK with repercussions for using British drones in the strikes in Ukraine
Russia has issued a warning to Britain regarding potential consequences following the confirmation that UK-made drones were utilized in Ukrainian attacks on Russian military and industrial locations.
Russia has issued a warning to the United Kingdom regarding potential consequences for the use of British-made drones in Ukrainian strikes targeting locations within Russia, alleging that London is intentionally escalating the conflict.
The Russian Embassy in the UK stated that Britain was acting as an “accomplice and co-perpetrator” of what it referred to as attacks on Russian territory, following a military source’s confirmation to the BBC that UK-made drones had been utilized in recent operations.
“In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the violent crimes and terrorist attacks,” the embassy stated.
It cautioned that Britain’s actions would “inevitably carry consequences,” further stating that the more deeply London engaged in the conflict, “the higher the price it will pay.”
The warning came after it was confirmed that drones produced by two British companies had been used in Ukrainian strikes on Russian military and industrial sites, including refineries and warehouses run by Wildberries, the largest online retailer in Russia.
A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones were utilized in the attacks, which have allegedly resulted in over £35 billion in economic damage.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, claimed that drones equipped with British components and configurations were utilized against targets in Russia, including a fuel depot in the Rostov Region.
The UK Ministry of Defense firmly dismissed any notion of withdrawing its support for Ukraine, asserting that Britain is dedicated to assisting Kyiv in its defense against Russia.
“Russia should be in no doubt about this government’s determination to oppose Russian aggression, both in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies,” stated a spokesperson from the Ministry of Defense.
The spokesperson emphasized that Britain continues to be dedicated to supplying the necessary equipment for Ukraine to defend itself against the illegal invasion by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.
The exchange occurs during yet another surge of overnight assaults between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian officials reported that approximately 620 dronesheaded toward the Moscow region, and air defenses successfully interceptedg over 180 of them. Several individuals were reportedly injured, as a logistics complex of Wildberries near Moscow was struck and briefly ignited.
The company reported that the facility experienced minor damage.
In Ukraine, regional authorities report that at least two individuals have lost their lives and four others have sustained injuries due to Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia. Officials reported that Russia conducted 1,158 strikes on 59 settlements in the region within a 24-hour timeframe.
The recent escalation comes after a significant Ukrainian drone attack on Russia on Saturday night, during which Kyiv allegedly deployed around 822 drones, with hundreds aimed at the Moscow area. Russian authorities characterized it as one of the most significant drone assaults on the capital in recent history.
In the aftermath of that attack, reports indicated seven fatalities throughout Russia.
Russian strikes on Ukraine that same night resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals and left over 39 others injured.
Britain has notably increased its military assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion that began in February 2022. In April, the UK Ministry of Defense revealed its plans to provide Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike systems, marking what it characterized as its largest drone package to date.
Russia currently holds around 20% of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine remains significantly dependent on Western military support as the conflict approaches its fifth year.
