UK drone factories may face attacks from 'unknown sources', says Kremlin adviser

Andrei Fedorov, an adviser to the Kremlin, says there might be a "semi‑military" response against UK drone factories by "unknown sources" after the UK shared military blueprints with Ukraine.

His comments on BBC Newsnight came as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he plans to travel to the US next month with European leaders to lobby President Trump on Ukraine's defence needs.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Burnham said, "I'm looking forward to going to New York in September," when the UN General Assembly will meet. He added that although details are not fully confirmed, it is likely he will go. The trip would be his first to the US since becoming prime minister in July.

Following his official visit to Ukraine on Monday, during which he promised to continue pressuring Russia, Burnham said: "Leaving today, I'm quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks."

The UK has also agreed to hand over blueprints for British‑made components for the Scalp missile, a French version of the UK's Storm Shadow cruise missile, allowing Ukraine to produce the long‑range weapon domestically.

Fedorov, who is Russia's former deputy foreign minister, said Putin was facing "serious" pressure to undertake certain measures against the UK. Asked where the pressure was coming from, Fedorov answered, "public opinion polls, it's coming from journalists, from mass media."

He suggested a "semi‑military" response might involve attacks on enterprises producing drones for Ukraine, saying, "They could be attacked not by Russia, but by unknown sources."

The Kremlin’s comment follows statements by spokesperson Dmitry Peskov who criticised the UK’s missile‑blueprint sharing, arguing it prevented any chance of peace. Peskov said the Russian military was already gathering data to locate and destroy any missile production sites.

Burnham countered: "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?" in response to the Russian claim that Britain fuels the conflict.

Burnham's visit to Ukraine was his first official international visit, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky and chaired the first meeting of the "coalition of the willing", set up by the UK and France under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

He reiterated the UK's support for Ukraine amid escalating Russian strikes, including a recent attack on a shopping centre that killed at least 16 people. Ukraine relies on American Patriot interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic missiles, but stockpiles are running low due to supply issues.

Zelensky hopes to secure 300 Patriot missiles ahead of winter, when Russia is likely to increase attacks on energy infrastructure.

Burnham expressed confidence that the issue is "fixable" and noted that other players beyond the US could help supply the Patriots.

In July, Trump backtracked on allowing Ukraine to build Patriots, stating, "We have not agreed to that. We're talking about it, but it is a hard thing to give away."

In a joint statement, Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to strengthen Kyiv’s air defences as an urgent priority, condemning Moscow’s escalating strikes and committing to sanction Russia’s war efforts.

Burnham said on Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence that "the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes." He added, "After all, Ukraine's security is our security." He declared the UK–Ukraine friendship will outlast the war and emphasized resolve until a just and lasting peace.