Kremlin advisor Andrey Fedorov stated that UK drone manufacturing facilities could face "mysterious attacks" following London's decision to share missile component designs with Ukraine. Speaking on BBC Newsnight on 24/8, Fedorov, a former Russian deputy foreign minister, revealed that President Vladimir Putin is under "serious pressure" to "take certain measures against the UK." He attributed this pressure to "opinion polls, the press, and mass media," suggesting a "paramilitary response" to the UK's actions.

"Something might happen to the businesses and factories producing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Ukraine," Fedorov said. "Those facilities could be attacked, not by Russia but by mysterious, unidentified forces," he added, without specifying who these forces might be.

These comments align with statements made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on 24/8. Peskov criticized the UK's sharing of Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missile designs, which helps Ukraine produce its own domestic version. According to Peskov, this move has "prevented even the slightest progress" toward achieving peace. He also stated that the Russian military has begun gathering intelligence to locate missile production facilities for their destruction. "The UK is on the same side as the Kyiv administration. They are continuously and systematically adding fuel to the fire", the Kremlin spokesman emphasized.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on 24/8. *Photo: Reuters*

In response to the Kremlin's accusations, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated, "Isn't the question rather, who lit the fire?" Burnham arrived in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, by train on 24/8, marking his first foreign trip as UK leader. During his visit, he met President Volodymyr Zelensky and chaired the inaugural meeting of the "Voluntary Alliance", established by the UK and France, comprising 35 nations supporting Ukraine.

Burnham repeatedly reaffirmed the UK's support for Ukraine. The UK Prime Minister also plans to visit the US next month with European leaders to lobby President Donald Trump to meet Ukraine's defense needs. "Leaving Ukraine today, I fully understand what I need to do in the coming weeks", Burnham stated.

The UK's Nyan UAV, which Ukraine has used to attack numerous targets on Russian territory over the past six months. *Photo: Callen-Lenz*

Ukraine's defense capabilities heavily rely on US Patriot interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic missiles. However, stockpiles of these missiles are dwindling as the US is focused on the conflict in the Middle East, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian ballistic missile attacks. President Zelensky hopes to receive 300 Patriot missiles before winter, when Russia is likely to intensify attacks on energy infrastructure, as Moscow has done in previous years. Burnham expressed confidence that this issue could be resolved, noting that the US is not the only nation that can supply Patriots to Ukraine. "Other parties can participate in providing support, and we can influence them. The solution will likely require the involvement of many parties and extensive negotiations", he said.

By Huyen Le (Based on BBC, Bloomberg)