A former high ranking Russian diplomat has issued a chilling warning that British factories producing drones for Ukraine may become targets for mysterious attackers. Speaking on the BBC program Newsnight, Andrei Fedorov, who previously served as Deputy Foreign Minister, suggested that while the Russian state might not officially claim responsibility, semi military groups or unknown entities could launch strikes or cyberattacks against these industrial sites. He noted that President Vladimir Putin is facing significant internal pressure from both the media and the general public to retaliate against London’s growing role in the conflict.
The timing of these threats follows a major escalation in military cooperation between the two allies. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently visited Kyiv to finalize an agreement that allows Ukraine to produce a sophisticated British and French designed cruise missile within its own borders using classified technology. This move marks a shift from simply supplying existing stockpiles to enabling domestic production, potentially allowing Ukraine to hit highly protected Russian command centers with greater precision than previous weaponry allowed.
Moscow has reacted with predictable hostility toward this partnership. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian intelligence is already tracking potential production sites in Ukraine for future targeting, while the Russian embassy in London has explicitly warned that deeper British involvement will lead to severe consequences. These tensions have flared further following claims from Moscow that UK manufactured drones have been utilized in direct strikes inside Russian territory.
Despite the warnings, Prime Minister Burnham remains steadfast in his commitment to Kyiv. During his trip to Ukraine, he argued that continuing to supply advanced weaponry is essential to squeezing Russia’s ability to finance its invasion. He framed Ukraine not as a burden on Western resources but as Europe’s primary defender and the frontline of continental security, insisting that Britain will continue providing whatever tools are necessary for Ukraine to protect itself.
