Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed Britain's steadfast support for Ukraine, declaring the nation stands with Kyiv "100 per cent" following Russian warnings of repercussions for supplying drones.
"We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine's hour of need and that won't change," Burnham stated. His remarks come after Russia's embassy in London accused Britain of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" by providing drones. The embassy added that "London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer."
On Monday, Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Moscow, with Russia reporting that 180 out of 620 launched drones were destroyed. Air defense systems engaged the drones, resulting in three reported injuries. Energy facilities, including a Moscow oil refinery, were reportedly targeted. A warehouse belonging to e-commerce giant Wildberries, implicated in supplying drone components, was also hit.
In Ukraine, Russian missile attacks in the Kharkiv region killed ten people and injured eight others. Meanwhile, the fear of drone attacks prompted the cancellation of Moscow's annual Red Square military music festival for the first time in four years of the conflict.
Ukraine and Russia have intensified long-range attacks as frontline fighting remains largely static, contributing to the highest civilian death toll since the war began in 2022. Former deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov suggested that Russia might consider striking the UK, with some military figures in the Kremlin believing the U.S. would not permit NATO retaliation.
President Vladimir Putin had previously threatened to seize British ships in the Pacific, framing the potential move as a response if Prime Minister Burnham ordered the seizure of more Russian tankers carrying oil intended to fund Moscow's war effort.
These threats follow reports that British-made drones were used in strikes on Russian mainland territory on Sunday. Drones manufactured by two UK companies were supplied to Ukraine, which has integrated them into its campaign targeting Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure. These strikes, which began in November 2024, have reportedly caused over £35 billion in economic damage and led to fuel shortages in Russia.
Among the British-made drones identified is the Nyan, a jet-powered, carbon-fibre attack drone developed by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems. This drone, with a wingspan of over 9 feet and a range exceeding 150 miles, was reportedly used against Belgorod last year and is part of Ukraine's expanding deep-strike capabilities. Ukraine has also deployed a second, unidentified British-made drone launched by catapult with a range exceeding 600 miles.
The use of British systems in targeting Russian infrastructure marks an escalation, particularly as Ukraine's stocks of more expensive munitions like Storm Shadow missiles are limited.