Russia has warned the United Kingdom of unspecified “consequences” after British-made drones were confirmed to have been used in recent Ukrainian attacks on military and industrial targets inside Russian territory.
The Russian embassy in the UK accused London of “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis”, warning that “the deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay”.
The warning followed a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting areas around Moscow and other locations deep inside Russia, including oil refineries, logistics facilities and sites linked to major online retailer Wildberries.
Responding to Moscow’s warning, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said Britain remained firmly behind Ukraine and stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the country.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
The Russian embassy said “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer”, although it did not specify what action Moscow might take against Britain.
The UK has been one of Ukraine’s leading military supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In April, the Ministry of Defence announced plans to provide Kyiv with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike systems.
Moscow’s latest warning came amid a significant escalation in Ukrainian drone attacks.
Russian officials said about 620 drones had been launched towards the Moscow region overnight, with air defences reportedly destroying more than 180.
Several people were injured and a Wildberries logistics complex suffered minor damage.
Ukraine has also increasingly relied on domestically developed weapons, including drones and missile systems, to strike targets inside Russia.
The latest attacks have coincided with continued Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine.
In one of the deadliest incidents, two Russian missiles struck the centre of Pechenihy in north-eastern Ukraine, killing 10 people.
Overall, 17 people were reported killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine, while further casualties were recorded in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, more than four years after launching its full-scale invasion.
