Former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov stated on Monday that British factories manufacturing drones for Ukraine could face attacks from "unknown sources." Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight, Fedorov suggested that these actions would be a response to the United Kingdom's increasing military assistance to Kyiv. He specifically mentioned the possibility of cyberattacks or "semi-military" actions carried out at a non-official level.
The statements follow a new defense agreement announced this week by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a visit to Kyiv. The deal involves providing Ukraine with classified technology to domestically produce a British and French-designed cruise missile. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the agreement on Monday, stating that the Russian military was identifying potential production sites within Ukraine to target them.
Fedorov claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing pressure from the Russian media and public to take action against Britain. According to the Russian embassy in London, which issued a statement last week, the U.K. is escalating the conflict. This accusation followed Russian reports that British-made drones had been utilized in strikes within Russian territory. The embassy warned of "increased consequences" for British involvement.
For residents and workers in the U.K., the warning suggests a risk of cyber interference or physical disruption to industrial sites, though the exact timing and nature of such "unknown" actions remain unspecified. The scale of the military aid is significant; the delivery of 120,000 drones equates to roughly 10,000 units per month, highlighting the intensity of the production cycle. Any disruption to these factories would directly impact the volume of hardware available to Ukrainian forces for reconnaissance and strike operations.
The situation sets a precedent for how non-combatant nations providing technical manufacturing capabilities might be treated as active participants by opposing forces. If manufacturing facilities are targeted as Fedorov suggested, it could prompt changes in domestic security protocols for private defense firms. The next steps involve the implementation of the missile production agreement in Ukraine. Russian officials stated on Monday they are currently gathering intelligence on those manufacturing locations, while Prime Minister Burnham stated the U.K. will continue providing weapons to maintain pressure on Russia.