The Russian Embassy in London issued a statement warning the United Kingdom that it will inevitably face consequences after confirming Ukraine used British-made drones to attack military and industrial targets deep inside Russian territory.
Russia delivered a harsh warning to the UK, stating that Britain must face "the consequences" of supplying drones to Ukraine, which have been used to strike targets within Russian territory. The statement also accused London of deliberately escalating the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom said in a statement that Britain's actions "will bring consequences for which the UK must take responsibility," warning that the more Britain involves itself in the conflict, the higher the price it will pay.
This warning came after The Times newspaper reported that British-made drones were used for the first time to attack long-range targets inside Russia. Military sources confirmed to the BBC that British drones were indeed used in the strikes.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has increased operations targeting deep inside Russian territory, focusing on oil refineries, industrial plants, and logistics centers, especially warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer often compared to the "Amazon of Russia."
Russian local officials reported that in the past two days, Ukraine launched several hundred drones attacking the Moscow area. Andrey Vorobyov, Governor of Moscow Oblast, said a 10-year-old girl was injured and a Wildberries warehouse was damaged.
Wildberries stated that one logistics center suffered minor damage from the attacks, while the Ukrainian government said that seven of the company's ten large logistics centers were damaged or rendered inoperable.
Sources indicated that two well-known British companies manufacture the drones supplied to Ukraine, while Ukraine's drone attacks have already caused economic damage to Russia exceeding £35 billion.
However, the UK Ministry of Defence did not directly confirm that British drones were used in the latest attacks but said a spokesperson that Britain will "stand shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine.
A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence said Russia should not doubt the British government's commitment to resisting Russian aggression both in Ukraine and against threats to the UK and its allies. They affirmed that Britain is dedicated to providing Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself from President Vladimir Putin's invasion.
In June, the UK announced it would supply Ukraine with 150,000 drones by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million (approximately $996 million) support package.
In addition to foreign-supplied drones, Ukraine has developed its own drone and missile technology, including the FP-5 Flamingo glide missile, which has been used recently.
Russian officials said that in the latest wave of attacks, about 620 drones targeted the Moscow area. Russia's air defense systems destroyed more than 180 drones, but there were reports of multiple injuries.
Earlier, on Saturday night, Ukraine launched about 822 drones at targets in Russia. The Governor of Moscow Oblast stated that approximately 600 drones headed toward Moscow, calling it one of the largest drone attacks in recent times, with seven deaths reported across Russia.
In 2024, the Russian Foreign Ministry said drones using British components and systems were used to attack Russian territory, including fuel depots in Kamensky, Rostov Oblast.
Russia has repeatedly warned the UK about supplying drone technology and Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. However, the latest Russian embassy statement did not specify what retaliatory measures Moscow is considering.
The deep incursions into Russian territory occurred simultaneously with a major Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine, which resulted in at least 17 deaths.
In the village of Pechenihy in northeastern Ukraine, local officials reported 10 deaths after two Russian missiles struck homes, a cafe, and a post office, with 17 people injured in Kharkiv Oblast.
Additionally, there were reports of three deaths in Sumy, two in Zaporizhzhia, and two in Kherson. Near the eastern front line in Izyum, five people were injured, and Kyiv experienced five waves of attacks overnight.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has repeatedly warned the UK and Western allies that supporting Ukraine, including supplying weapons and military equipment, could lead to Russian retaliatory measures and increase the risk of the conflict expanding into a direct confrontation between Russia and Western nations.