Key facts
- Russia accused the UK of escalating the Ukraine crisis due to the use of British-made drones in strikes on Russian territory.
- The Russian Embassy stated the UK is an "accomplice and co-perpetrator" of "bloody crimes and terrorist attacks".
- The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed its commitment to supplying Ukraine with defensive equipment.
- British-made drones have been used in successful strikes against Russian military and industrial targets.
- Ukraine has targeted Wildberries logistics centers, reportedly disabling seven of the largest.
- A military source confirmed UK drones were used in attacks causing over £35 billion in economic damage.
Russia has accused the United Kingdom of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in strikes on targets within Russia. The Russian Embassy to the UK stated that London's actions make it an "accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks," warning that "London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer."
A spokesperson for the UK's Ministry of Defence responded by stating that Britain stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine and is "committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's illegal invasion."
The drones in question, built by two separate British companies, have reportedly been used in successful targeting of military and industrial sites in Russia, including refineries and warehouses belonging to the online retailer Wildberries. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Wildberries, describing it as Russia's version of Amazon, and claims that seven out of the ten largest logistics centers have been "disabled." A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones were involved in these attacks, which are estimated to have caused over £35 billion in economic damage.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that drones utilizing UK components and configurations were used in attacks on Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Rostov Region. Moscow's warning to the UK comes amid a recent surge in Ukrainian strikes on Russia. On Saturday night, Ukraine reportedly launched approximately 822 drones toward Russia, with 600 targeting Moscow, according to the regional governor, who described it as "one of the most massive drone attacks in recent memory." Seven deaths were reported across Russia from these attacks. On the same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 39 injuries.
In April, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its intention to supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices, marking the largest such package to date.