UK Drone Factories May Face Attacks, Says Former Russian Minister
A former Russian deputy foreign minister, Andrei Fedorov, said the United Kingdom’s factories producing components for the SCALP‑EG/Storm Shadow cruise missile could be targeted by an unnamed, “semi‑military” response. The remark coincided with a UK announcement that it would hand over the blueprints for British‑made missile parts to Ukraine, to enable local production of the long‑range weapon.
Fedorov made the comments during a BBC Newsnight interview, warning that the assault could come from “unknown sources” rather than official Russian forces. He cited “public opinion polls, journalists and media” as the pressure points for a possible retaliatory strike against these factories. His comments come at a time of escalating tension over the UK’s role in supplying advanced weaponry to Ukraine.
At the same time, UK Prime Minister Andrew Burnham announced plans to travel in January to Washington with European leaders. The purpose of the trip is to lobby President Donald Trump for additional support for Ukraine’s defence needs, including the contentious Patriot missile programme. Burnham’s visit would be his first trip to the U.S. since taking office.
Burnham’s remarks followed a meeting in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelensky and the first convening of a “coalition of the willing” led by the UK and France. The coalition aims to strengthen Kyiv’s air defences and pressure Russia through sanctions and targeted actions against its military assets.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on the other hand, condemned the UK’s decision to hand over missile blueprints, saying it would hinder any progress towards peace. He stated the Russian military was already gathering intelligence on possible production sites. Peskov insisted Britain’s involvement in the war “contributes the fuel to the fire.”
The conflict has also affected other arms programs. Ukraine relies heavily on American supplied Patriot interceptor missiles, but its stockpiles are dwindling. Zelensky has requested an additional 300 Patriot missiles ahead of the winter months, when Russia usually ramps up attacks on energy infrastructure.
During a Bloomberg interview, Burnham expressed confidence that the defence support issue was “fixable” and noted that the U.S. is not the only actor capable of supplying these weapons. He stressed that the solution would require “layers and negotiation.”
The UK press releases emphasise that Ukraine’s independence anniversary would never be questioned and that the UK remains committed to Ukraine’s security. Burnham reiterated that the friendship between the UK and Ukraine would outlast Russia’s aggression, and his government would not back down until a just and lasting peace.
