Russia has warned the United Kingdom that it will face consequences over the use of British-made drones in Ukrainian strikes against targets inside Russia, accusing London of deliberately escalating the war.
The Russian Embassy in the UK said Britain was acting as an “accomplice and co-perpetrator” of what it described as attacks on Russian territory after a military source confirmed to the BBC that UK-made drones had been used in recent operations.
“In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks,” the embassy said.
It warned that Britain’s actions would “inevitably carry consequences”, adding that the deeper London became involved in the conflict, “the higher the price it will pay”.
The warning followed confirmation that drones manufactured by two British companies had been deployed in Ukrainian attacks against Russian military and industrial targets, including refineries and warehouses operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.
A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in the attacks, which have reportedly caused more than £35 billion in economic damage.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also alleged that drones using British components and configurations had been deployed against targets in Russia, including a fuel depot in Rostov Region.
The UK Ministry of Defence, however, rejected any suggestion that it would withdraw its support for Ukraine, saying Britain remained committed to helping Kyiv defend itself against Russia.
“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,” an MoD spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Britain remained “committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal invasion”.
The exchange comes amid another wave of overnight attacks between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian officials said about 620 drones were flown towards the Moscow region, with air defences destroying more than 180. Several people were reportedly wounded, while a Wildberries logistics complex near Moscow was hit and briefly caught fire.
The company said the facility sustained minor damage.
In Ukraine, at least two people were killed and four others injured in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, according to regional authorities. Officials said Russia had launched 1,158 strikes against 59 settlements in the region over a 24-hour period.
The latest escalation follows a major Ukrainian drone assault on Russia on Saturday night, when Kyiv reportedly launched about 822 drones, including hundreds targeting the Moscow region. Russian authorities described it as one of the largest drone attacks on the capital in recent memory.
Seven deaths were reported across Russia following that attack.
Russian strikes on Ukraine on the same night also killed at least seven people and injured more than 39 others.
Britain has significantly expanded its military support for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. In April, the UK Ministry of Defence announced plans to supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike systems, in what it described as its largest-ever drone package.
Russia currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine continues to rely heavily on Western military assistance as the war enters its fifth year.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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