The Russian Embassy in London warned on Monday that the United Kingdom will face consequences over its military support for Ukraine following reports that British-made drones were used in deep strikes inside Russia.
Tensions between Moscow and London escalated after The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that drones produced by two British companies were deployed by Ukrainian forces against military and industrial targets deep within Russian territory.
In a statement issued on Monday, the embassy accused the UK of deliberately choosing to escalate the conflict and becoming a complicit co-author of the strikes. Russian diplomatic representatives warned that actions taken by London would inevitably result in consequences for which the government would have to answer, asserting that deeper involvement in the conflict and greater support for what it termed the Kyiv terror machine would carry a higher price.
British defense support
According to the report by The Sunday Times, a national British newspaper, one of the two manufacturing firms involved is a subsidiary of BAE Systems. The publication did not name the second British enterprise, citing security reasons.
BAE Systems is the largest defense contractor and aerospace manufacturer in the United Kingdom. The British government has consistently served as one of the principal financial and military backers of Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Total British assistance mobilized for Kyiv since the start of the invasion has reached approximately £25 billion, which is equivalent to just over €29 billion. That overall financial commitment includes £16 billion designated specifically for military aid.
Escalating long-range strikes
The diplomatic warning comes amid a sharp increase in long-range aerial attacks by both sides in recent months. Ukrainian forces have expanded their campaign of strikes targeting strategic industrial and military facilities inside Russian borders.
During the same period, Moscow has intensified its own air strikes against the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Russian forces have frequently launched ballistic missiles against the city, employing high-speed weapons that present major technical challenges for air defense systems attempting to intercept them.
