Russia's warning to the UK over supplying drones to Ukraine comes as the conflict between the two nations escalates, with Russia accusing the UK of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis". The Russian Embassy to the UK stated that the UK's actions make it an "accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks" in Ukraine. The embassy warned that the UK's involvement in the conflict will "inevitably carry consequences" and that the "deeper its involvement, the higher the price it will pay".
In response, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said that the UK stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine and is committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. The spokesperson added that Russia should be in no doubt about the UK's resolve to stand against Russian aggression in Ukraine and against the UK and its allies. The UK has supplied Ukraine with British-made drones, which have been used in successful strikes on military and industrial targets in Russia, including refineries and warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries.
Ukraine has targeted Wildberries, known as Russia's version of Amazon, repeatedly, and claims to have "disabled" seven out of 10 of the company's largest logistics centres. The attacks are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that drones using UK components and configurations were used to attack Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Rostov Region. The latest attacks come after a wave of Ukrainian strikes on Russia, with Russian officials saying that some 620 drones were flown towards the region surrounding Moscow overnight.
Russian air defences destroyed more than 180 of the drones, but several people were wounded, and a Wildberries warehouse near Moscow was hit. In Ukraine, at least two people were killed and four injured in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory. The UK's supply of drones to Ukraine is part of its biggest ever package, announced in April, which includes tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices.
The situation is likely to escalate further, with Russia launching 1,158 strikes on 59 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region over the past 24 hours. The UK's involvement in the conflict has drawn criticism from Russia, which sees the supply of drones as a provocation. The Ministry of Defence's commitment to standing "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine suggests that the UK is prepared to continue its support for Ukraine, despite Russia's warnings. As the conflict continues to escalate, the consequences of the UK's involvement will likely become clearer in the coming days.
