Russia has accused the UK of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in strikes on targets in Russia.
"In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co‑perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks," the Russian Embassy to the UK wrote in a statement. It warned that London’s actions would inevitably carry consequences and the deeper its involvement in the conflict, the higher the price it would pay.
In response, a spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence told BBC News that Britain stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine. They said, "Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies," adding that the UK was "committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion."
The drones were built by two separate British companies and were used inside Russia to target military and industrial sites, including refineries and warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the company, claiming that seven of the ten largest Wildberries logistics centres have been "disabled." A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones were used in the attacks, which caused more than £35 bn in economic damage.
Russia launched its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said drones using UK components and configurations were used to attack Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region.
Moscow’s warning to the UK comes after a wave of Ukrainian strikes on Russia, most recently an attack on Monday that saw nine people killed and 23 injured, including a child. On Saturday night, Ukraine fired some 822 drones towards Russia, with 600 aiming for Moscow, according to its regional governor. Seven deaths were reported across Russia and, on the same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured more than 39. In April, the MoD announced it would supply Ukraine tens of thousands of drones, including long‑range strike devices, in its biggest ever package.
