Moscow Warns London Over the Use of British Drones in Attacks Inside Russia

Russia has warned the United Kingdom that there will be “consequences” after it was confirmed that Ukraine has used British-made drones to strike targets on Russian territory.

According to Moscow, London is knowingly pushing the conflict toward escalation, while its involvement in the war is taking on an increasingly direct character.

The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom accused London of playing the role of a “co-conspirator and co-leader” in attacks against Russia. Its statement said that “London’s actions will inevitably bring consequences for which it will have to answer.”

Russian authorities warned that greater British involvement in the conflict would also mean a higher “price” for London to pay.

Britain dismissed the concerns expressed by Moscow, reaffirming its support for Ukraine. A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence said that London stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Kyiv and that Russia should have no doubt about the British government’s determination to oppose Russian aggression. He added that Britain would continue providing Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself against the Russian invasion.

The BBC reported that the drones were manufactured by two British companies and that Ukraine had used them in operations inside Russia. The targets included military and industrial infrastructure, oil refineries, and logistics centers belonging to the Russian online retailer Wildberries.

A military source confirmed the use of British drones in these operations and said that the economic damage caused by Ukrainian attacks in Russia was estimated at more than £35 billion.

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, said that drones with British components and configurations had been used in attacks on Russian territory. She also mentioned a fuel depot in the Rostov region among the targets.

Moscow’s position was made public following a new series of drone airstrikes. Russian officials said that around 620 drones were launched toward the Moscow region overnight, while Russian air defenses claimed to have destroyed more than 180 of them.

According to Russian authorities, an attack recorded the previous night caused 9 deaths and injured 23 people, including a child.

Meanwhile, Ukraine was believed to have launched around 822 drones toward Russia on Saturday, 600 of which were bound for Moscow. Russian authorities reported that the attacks left 7 people dead.

That same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 7 people and injured more than 39.

The United Kingdom has meanwhile expanded its military support for Ukraine. In April, the British Ministry of Defence announced an aid package that included tens of thousands of drones, including long-range attack systems.