Vladimir Putin has warned that British military facilities in Ukraine are legitimate Russian targets while refusing to rule out attacks on UK-linked drone operations, in the latest escalation of Moscow’s rhetoric towards London.
Putin was asked at a press conference in Kyrgyzstan how Russia would respond to Britain supplying weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian president appeared to relish the question, telling state broadcaster RT: “It’s a secret. A military secret.”
Asked whether “British military facilities” inside Ukraine could be targeted, Putin said they were “absolutely” legitimate targets, while first asking the RT correspondent: “Are there British military facilities in Ukraine?”
When the journalist clarified that the question was hypothetical, Putin replied: “If there are, then absolutely, I can confirm once again, any military facilities in Ukraine are our legitimate target, British or otherwise.”
The comments come as Britain continues to expand its military support for Ukraine and follows a series of increasingly direct threats from senior Russian officials against UK interests.
The Ministry of Defence revealed earlier this year that it operates four military repair facilities in Ukraine, with a fifth facility planned. Known as maintenance, repair and overhaul systems, the sites are used to repair damaged military equipment rather than manufacture weapons.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to maintain Britain’s support for Kyiv as the war enters another prolonged phase.
Last month, his government agreed to provide Ukraine with blueprints for British-made components used in the SCALP missile, the French counterpart to Britain’s Storm Shadow system.
The transfer is intended to allow Ukraine to manufacture the weapon domestically. The missile has a range of about 155 miles, giving Kyiv a means of striking targets well behind the front line.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to western governments for additional long-range missiles, as it possesses aircraft capable of launching such weapons but lacks the industrial capability to manufacture many of the systems itself.
Moscow has repeatedly portrayed Britain as one of the most active western participants in the conflict because of its military and financial support for Kyiv.
Just one day after Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s backing for Ukraine, Kremlin adviser Andrei Fyodorov warned that “unknown sources” could soon target British drone factories.
Speaking to the BBC, Fyodorov said Russian officials were under “serious” pressure “to undertake certain measures against the UK”.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has also threatened British military targets in Ukraine and “beyond”.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused London of being “one step away” from “inevitable catastrophic consequences”, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.
The latest statements underline the growing tension between Moscow and London as Britain becomes more deeply involved in supporting Ukraine’s military capabilities.
While Putin stopped short of announcing any planned attack, his refusal to rule out British targets adds to a succession of public warnings from Russian officials. For the UK government, the threats raise the prospect that military facilities, logistics networks and other infrastructure linked to Britain’s support for Ukraine could become targets as the conflict continues.
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