British drones hit Russia for first time in Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign – The Sunday Times
The newspaper says British drones add cheaper firepower for Ukrainian mass strikes.
Ukrainian forces have successfully used British drones to attack targets inside Russia for the first time, expanding Kyiv's arsenal with two systems of British origin, according to The Sunday Times report on 15 August. The newspaper cited Ukrainian military sources, identifying oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl among the targets struck during the past six months.
While Ukraine primarily relies on domestically produced drones, the British systems offer cheaper, replenishable, and scalable options that extend Ukraine's deep-strike capabilities without depleting limited stocks of Western long-range missiles.
The Sunday Times highlighted this as a new phase in UK-Ukraine military cooperation. A senior British defense source noted that London is "not nervous anymore" about Russian pressure, while British support adds significantly to Ukraine's homegrown drone force. The two systems supplied by Britain have different ranges: the Nyan, a jet-powered one-way attack drone by BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, covers over 150 miles, and the second system, launched by catapult and having a range above 600 miles, is not named due to security reasons.
Long-range drones typically cost between £50,000 and £100,000, substantially less than the price of replacing a Storm Shadow missile, which ranges from over £750,000.
These drones not only extend the reach of British support but also complement Ukraine's existing arsenal. In June, the UK pledged funding for the production of 150,000 Ukrainian-made drones by the end of 2026. Ukrainian forces have also employed British Rapid Ranger systems against Russian Shaheds and utilized UK-supplied Storm Shadows inside Russia, bolstering Ukraine's defensive capabilities while broadening its offensive options across the border.
A senior Ukrainian military source stated that when British drones are launched, they are accompanied by the Ukrainian slogan "Slava Ukraini" and "God save the King." Former UK Air Marshal Greg Bagwell warned that Moscow might retaliate by targeting British factories, while other defense sources cautioned about intensified cyberattacks or espionage against the UK.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
