Russia has warned Britain that it will face unspecified consequences over its military support for Ukraine, after reports that British-made drones have been used in long-range strikes against
targets inside Russian territory.
The Russian embassy in London issued the warning on Tuesday, responding to a report in The Times that British-produced drones had reportedly been deployed by Ukraine in deep strikes against Russia for the first time.
“London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” the embassy said in a statement published on its Telegram channel.
It accused Britain of becoming increasingly involved in the war and warned that the costs for London would rise as its support for Kyiv expanded.
“The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kiev's terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay,” the embassy said.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia, including oil refineries, industrial sites and logistics infrastructure. Kyiv says such operations are aimed at weakening Russia's military capacity and disrupting supplies supporting its invasion of Ukraine.
Britain's Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British-made drones had been used in the reported attacks.
London has nevertheless significantly expanded its military assistance to Ukraine. In June, the British government announced plans to provide 150,000 drones to Kyiv by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million ($996 million) package intended to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities.
Responding to the Russian warning, a British defence ministry spokesperson reaffirmed London's commitment to supporting Kyiv.
“Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin's illegal invasion,” the spokesperson said.
The latest exchange reflects a broader pattern of increasingly hostile rhetoric between Moscow and London since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned Britain and other Western governments that weapons deliveries and military assistance to Ukraine could trigger retaliation and increase the danger of a wider confrontation between Russia and the West.
For its part, Britain has maintained that Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russian attacks and has continued to expand military and financial assistance despite Moscow's threats. Photo by W. Bulach, Wikimedia commons.
