Key facts
- Russia warned the UK of consequences for supplying drones used in Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated Britain will continue to support Ukraine '100%' against Russia's invasion.
- British-made drones have reportedly been used in strikes on Russian military and industrial sites.
- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated Russia has the right to regard Britain's direct involvement in strikes on Russian territory as participation in the war in Ukraine.
Russia has accused the United Kingdom of escalating the Ukraine crisis following reports that British-made drones have been used in strikes on Russian territory. The Russian Embassy in London 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, reportedly built by two British companies, have been used to target military and industrial sites, including refineries and warehouses belonging to the online retailer Wildberries. A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones were involved in these attacks, estimated to have caused over £35 billion in economic damage. This warning comes amid a recent surge in Ukrainian strikes on Russia, with Ukraine reportedly launching approximately 822 drones toward Russia on Saturday night, 600 of which targeted Moscow. On the same night, Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 39 injuries. In June, Britain announced it would provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million funding package. Ukraine's strategy of long-range drone strikes is thought to be intended to cut Moscow's revenue for the war and make Russian citizens feel the impact of the invasion. Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that it had shot down 598 Ukrainian drones over 19 Russian regions, as well as the Black Sea, the Azov Sea and the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Officials said on Monday that Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russia had killed seven people overnight, while five civilians died in Ukraine after strikes by Moscow’s forces. Russian missile attacks on Tuesday killed 10 people and injured eight in a village in Ukraine’s north-eastern Kharkiv oblast, the regional governor said. The strike on the village of Pechenihy damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, a shop and at least seven cars, Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram. Ukraine can now almost match the deep-strike capability that Russia has had since the beginning of the war using large drones and cruise missiles, though it does not possess the high-speed ballistic missiles that Moscow frequently uses. At the same time, both sides' air defences are stretched to the point of near exhaustion, leading to a rise in civilian casualties and worries that the impact of the conflict beyond the immediate frontlines will only increase into the winter.