Last week, The Sunday Times reported that uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) produced by two British companies have been used by Ukraine to attack military and industrial targets inside Russia.
On 17/8, the Russian Embassy in London accused the UK of being an "accomplice and accessory" to Ukraine in these attacks, stating that London has deliberately "chosen to escalate the conflict".
"The deeper the UK gets involved in the conflict and the stronger its support for Kyiv, the heavier the price it will pay", the statement declared.
According to The Sunday Times, one of the British companies involved in providing drones to Ukraine is a subsidiary of the defense giant BAE Systems. The newspaper did not name the other company "for security reasons".
Wildberries warehouse in Podolsk, Russia, ablaze after a Ukrainian strike on 16/8. Video: Reuters
When asked to comment on Russia's statement, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defense said the country "stands with Ukraine", committing to provide the equipment Kyiv needs to "defend itself".
The UK has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since the conflict with Russia erupted in 2/2022. London has pledged approximately 33 billion USD in aid to Kyiv, including over 21 billion USD in military assistance.
In recent months, Ukraine has intensified long-range attacks deep within Russian territory. Last weekend, 600 UAVs targeted the capital Moscow in an attack Russian officials described as the largest in two years.
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Wildberries warehouses in the Moscow region, Russia, ablaze after a Ukrainian drone attack on 16/8. Photo: Reuters
One of Ukraine's most frequent targets since last month has been the warehouses and infrastructure of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. Ukraine alleges these facilities store and supply components for drones, guidance systems, and other equipment for the Russian military.
Russian officials and Wildberries representatives deny the information, criticizing Ukraine for "attacking civilians and civilian structures" in these incidents.
Analysts assess that Kyiv has achieved some tactical successes, but has not accomplished the campaign's ultimate goal of pressuring Moscow to end the conflict. Conversely, Russia has escalated its response with missile and UAV strikes targeting defense facilities specializing in producing UAVs used in Ukraine's campaign.
The Russian military also attacked numerous cargo ships suspected of carrying weapons and military supplies for the adversary in the Black Sea, and struck port infrastructure in Odesa and Mykolaiv provinces. Ukrainian media described this activity as a complete blockade of seaports, impacting export operations and causing "the most severe economic problems" for Kyiv.
Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, Reuters)
