Russia warns the UK over drone supply as Ukrainian strikes spread

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:55:08 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Russia accuses the UK of supplying drones used in attacks on Russian sites, issuing a formal warning amid escalating cross‑border drone operations.

Russia’s embassy has blasted the UK for reportedly providing drones that targeted military and industrial sites in Russia, citing attacks on refineries and Wildberries logistics centres. It called Britain an accomplice of “bloody crimes” and warned of inevitable consequences. The UK Defence Ministry counter‑argued that it is standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Ukraine against Russian aggression. The conflict has seen a torrent of Ukrainian drone raids, with both sides reporting casualties and millions of pounds in damage. The latest confrontations underscore the geopolitical stakes of weapon supply in the war for Ukrainian territory.

Russia warns the UK over drone supply as Ukrainian strikes spread

Smoke rises above a Wildberries facility after a Ukrainian drone strike

The Russian embassy in the United Kingdom has issued a formal warning accusing Britain of deliberately escalating the Ukraine crisis by providing drones that were used in attacks on Russian infrastructure. Government officials say the machines were built by two British firms and have struck military bases and private logistics centres, including those operated by the e‑commerce giant Wildberries, in a series of high‑profile raids.

In a statement, Moscow called Britain an “accomplice and co‑perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks” and warned that deeper engagement with the war would bring “higher price” for the UK. The British Defence Ministry replied that it stands “shoulder‑to‑shoulder” with Ukraine, stressing its commitment to provide the equipment needed to defend against Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.

According to Ukrainian claims and a British military source, the drones were used to strike a fuel depot in Russia’s Rostov region and a Wildberries logistics facility near Podolsk, incurring more than £35 bn in economic damage. Seven of the ten largest Wildberries sites have reportedly been disabled, the company said. Moscow’s warning follows a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks, with 822 drones launched toward Russia in one night and the Russian capital suffering a “massive” strike that left nine dead and 23 injured.

The conflict, which began with Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, now sees Russia controlling about a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Moscow’s message serves as a stark reminder of how weapon supply lines can turn local conflicts into global diplomatic tensions.