Jade McGlynn, expert with King’s College London

Russia's relentless aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kyiv, draw on historical parallels with Nazi bombings of London during World War II. The goal behind these attacks appears to be psychological, aiming to break Britain's resolve in supporting Ukraine. Historically, such bombings did not succeed in causing Britain to surrender, but they instead galvanized the British people.

The Ukraine crisis has generated a sense of British national pride similar to that experienced during the Blitz, making these comparisons emotionally resonant for the British public. This support for Ukraine is generally strong in the UK, fueled by a long-standing historical aversion to Russian aggression and a general sense of solidarity with the underdog.

However, Russia's hybrid warfare against Europe seeks to sow panic and division, exploiting the continent's political diversity to undermine support for Ukraine. Germany's response to the Leipzig drone incident has been criticized as insufficient, as the measures taken did not appear to be as robust as their announcement suggested.