Ukraine uses British-made drones in deep strikes inside Russia for first time

Ukraine has deployed British-made drones in long-range attacks inside Russian territory for the first time, according to sources within the Ukrainian armed forces. The drone strikes targeted oil refineries, logistics facilities, and other strategic sites in Moscow, Yaroslavl, Volgograd, and the Belgorod region. The British drones in use include the Nyan drone, developed by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems.

The Nyan drone boasts a wingspan of approximately 2.9 meters, a range surpassing 240 kilometers, and is capable of executing precision strikes in challenging operational environments. The second British drone system, though unnamed for security reasons, has a range exceeding 960 kilometers and is deployed from a launch system enabling successive operations.

Although domestically produced drones remain the primary means of Ukraine's long-range attacks, the introduction of British systems has augmented Kyiv's capabilities and yielded successful results in targeting Russian infrastructure. This development comes amid heightened long-range strikes against industrial and military targets within Russia, potentially prompting concerns in London regarding the prospect of Russian retaliation via cyberattacks, espionage, or sabotage.

The deployment of these British drones, alongside Ukraine's ongoing use of indigenous drones, signifies a further evolution in military cooperation between London and Kyiv as the Russia-Ukraine conflict persists.