Russia warns UK of possible strikes over missile supplies to Ukraine

Russia has threatened the United Kingdom with possible strikes. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova urged all UK citizens to consider the "inevitable catastrophic consequences" of their government’s actions. She said Russia may launch attacks against British military targets in Ukraine and beyond, in response to Ukrainian military strikes using British-supplied weapons. Zakharova made the remarks on Thursday, August 27.

"Those responsible for war crimes, including against our country's civilian population, will be punished in accordance with what they have done," she said during a briefing. According to her, by transferring "assembly functions" for long-range missiles to Kyiv, London and Paris are attempting to shift responsibility for attacks deep inside Russian territory. Zakharova again called on UK residents to reflect on the "inevitable catastrophic consequences" of their government's steps.

She also urged the British leadership "to carefully reassess the situation and immediately and unequivocally abandon its hostile, aggressive course, which risks escalating the conflict to a fundamentally new level".

On August 24, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, during his first visit to Kyiv, announced plans to transfer secret blueprints for components of Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles to Ukraine. France had earlier agreed to provide Ukraine with these missile blueprints as part of a defense agreement.