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UK drones spark Moscow threat
Russia threatened the United Kingdom with “consequences” after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time, as Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep strike campaign.
“Moscow has threatened the United Kingdom with “consequences””
In a statement on Monday, Russia’s embassy to the UK said the reports “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” and accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy”.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told BBC News that Britain stood “shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine” and said it was committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion.
The BBC also said the drones in question were built by two separate British companies and were used inside Russia in targeting of military and industrial targets, including refineries and warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries.
The BBC further reported that Russia’s warning came after a wave of Ukrainian strikes on Russia, including an overnight attack in which Russian officials said some 620 drones had been flown towards the region surrounding Moscow and that air defences destroyed more than 180 of the drones.
Embassy language vs UK reply
Moscow’s embassy in London accused the UK of acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator, writing to BBC News that “In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks”.
The UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson, speaking to BBC News, rejected the threats and said Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and its allies.
The Anadolu Ajansı report said Russia’s Embassy in the UK accused London of complicity in Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, warning that the embassy’s statement on Telegram said London’s growing support for Kyiv would have consequences.
In the same dispute, the Asharq Al-Awsat English report said Russia warned Britain it would face consequences for supplying drones to Ukraine used to attack targets on Russian territory, while noting that Britain’s Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British drones had been used.
The BBC also reported that Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Wildberries and says that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres have been “disabled”, while a military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in the attacks.
Retaliation stakes and battlefield reach
The AAPNews Logo | Other report said Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia in 2026, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones increasingly targeting military industries and energy facilities, and it said Ukraine also targeted giant depots for Wildberries.
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer”
In the same reporting, the AAPNews Logo | Other account said the Russian embassy to the UK accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy” and warned that “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” tying the embassy’s threat to deeper involvement and greater support for Kyiv.
The BBC reported that Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said drones using UK components and configurations were used to attack Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region.
Separately, the BBC described the scale of recent drone activity, saying that on Saturday night Ukraine fired some 822 drones towards Russia, with 600 aiming for Moscow, and that seven deaths were reported across Russia.
The BBC also said Russian air defences destroyed more than 180 of the drones in the latest attacks overnight and that several people were left wounded, while an attack the night before saw nine people killed and 23 injured, including a child.