Russia warns UK over supplying drones to Ukraine

Russia has condemned the UK for allegedly escalating tensions in the Ukraine crisis by using British-made drones in strikes on Russian targets. The Russian Embassy in the UK stated that London is acting as an "accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks" and warned that deeper involvement in the conflict will result in consequences for the UK.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) countered that Britain stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine and is committed to providing the equipment needed to defend against Russian aggression. The drones in question, built by two British companies, have been used to target military and industrial facilities in Russia, causing economic damage estimated at over £35 billion.

Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. Moscow's warning follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia, including one that killed nine people and injured 23 on Monday. Russia also suffered casualties in its retaliatory strikes on Ukraine. In April, the MoD announced plans to supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices, in its largest ever package.