UK vows to stand by Ukraine as Russia warns of “Consequences” over British drone support

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reaffirmed Britain's commitment to supporting Ukraine, saying the country will continue

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, saying the country will continue to stand firmly with Kyiv despite warnings from Moscow over Britain’s involvement in the conflict.

Burnham said the UK would remain a reliable supporter of Ukraine and would continue providing assistance as the war continues. His comments came after Russia criticised Britain’s role following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in recent Ukrainian attacks inside Russian territory.

“We are not fair-weather friends,” Burnham said, stressing that Britain would remain with Ukraine during what he described as its “hour of need”. He added that the UK’s position was to provide Ukraine with the support necessary to defend itself.

The Russian embassy in the UK responded by accusing Britain of deliberately increasing tensions surrounding the war. It warned that the greater Britain’s involvement in the conflict became, the greater the consequences could be for the UK.

The embassy said London’s actions would eventually have consequences for which Britain would have to take responsibility. However, it did not provide specific details about what form those consequences might take.

The latest dispute follows an increase in Ukrainian attacks against targets deep inside Russia. Ukrainian forces have recently focused on areas including Moscow and other parts of the country, with oil refineries, logistics facilities and other strategically important sites among the reported targets.

One company affected by the attacks is Wildberries, a major Russian online retailer. Its logistics infrastructure has reportedly been damaged during recent Ukrainian drone strikes.

Asked about Moscow’s warning, Burnham defended the UK’s policy of assisting Ukraine. He said Britain was providing support to enable Ukraine to protect itself and argued that this had been the country’s position throughout the conflict, including under previous British prime ministers.

The UK has been one of Ukraine’s strongest international supporters since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Britain has supplied Kyiv with military equipment, training and technology, including drone capabilities and Storm Shadow missiles.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has also reiterated its commitment to supplying Ukraine with the equipment it needs to defend itself against Russian forces and what it described as President Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.

Russia currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, but Russian troops have made limited progress along the front line in recent months. Despite the lack of major advances, however, attacks and casualties continue to occur far from the main battlefield.

United Nations officials have reported a sharp increase in civilian casualties. At least 437 civilians were killed in Ukraine last month, making it the country’s deadliest month for civilians since May 2022.

More people were killed in the latest Russian attacks on Tuesday. Seventeen Ukrainians reportedly died in different parts of the country. Ten people were killed in the north-eastern village of Pechenihy after two missiles struck the area. Residential buildings, a cafe and a post office were among the places damaged.

Other deaths were reported in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with three people killed in Sumy and two each in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

Meanwhile, Moscow’s latest warning came after a series of Ukrainian strikes inside Russia. Five people were reportedly killed in a residential area of Russia’s Rostov region during attacks over the weekend.

Ukraine has also launched hundreds of drones towards the Moscow region in recent days. Regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said on Tuesday that a 10-year-old girl was injured and a Wildberries warehouse was damaged.

Alongside foreign-made equipment, Ukraine has increasingly relied on its own defence industry. Ukrainian forces have recently used domestically developed drones and missiles, including the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile.

The latest developments demonstrate the increasingly long-range nature of the conflict and the growing risks faced by countries supporting Ukraine. Despite Moscow’s warnings, Britain maintains that helping Ukraine defend itself remains a central part of its policy.