The United Kingdom has stated it will not be intimidated by Russian threats following reports that U.K.-made drones were used in strikes against Russia for the first time. Moscow issued a warning that London would "pay" for its continued support of Ukraine.
The Russian Embassy in the U.K. claimed that the British military was complicit in attacks, stating that "blood is on the hands of the British military" after Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles in a strike on Russia's Bryansk region in March. The British government has maintained its stance, asserting, "We Won't Be Bullied."
Beyond supplying drones, the U.K. has also provided Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles. These missile stockpiles were reportedly replenished in November, according to Bloomberg. Ukrainian forces have utilized these missiles for strikes within Russia and Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine in recent months.
This exchange occurs amidst an intensification of long-range strikes by both Russia and Ukraine. Russian authorities reported that over 600 drones were launched toward Moscow between Monday evening and early Tuesday, with city officials stating that air defenses intercepted 180. In response to a Russian strike on a busy intersection in Pechenihy, Kharkiv, which killed 10 people on Tuesday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed retaliation and urged allies to "complement our just kinetic responses with their own actions to put pressure on Russia and support Ukraine."