Russia says British sites in Ukraine are legitimate targets due to Kyiv support
Russia says British sites in Ukraine are legitimate targets due to Kyiv support
Friday 18 September 2026 at 5:11pm
Vladimir Putin’s government has warned that British facilities in Ukraine will be considered “legitimate targets” if they are used to support long-range strikes against Russia.
The Russian foreign ministry summoned the UK’s deputy head of mission in Moscow, Danae Dholakia, to complain about British support for Ukraine in the war triggered by Putin’s invasion four years ago.
The senior diplomat was warned that Russia could take “retaliatory measures” in response.
A statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry said Dholakia was “issued a strong protest” over the supply of drones and other weapons systems to Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces in Ukraine.
“It was emphasised that in light of the United Kingdom’s policy the Russian side reserves the right to take necessary retaliatory measures as part of the exercise of the right to self-defence,” the statement said.
“It was confirmed that any British facilities in Ukraine that are used to strike the Russian territory shall be considered a legitimate target.
“It was stressed that full responsibility for any possible further adverse development of the situation lies with London.”
The warning from Russia comes amid heightened tension in Europe over the war in Ukraine.
Also on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron warned Europe was increasingly being hit by hybrid attacks from Russia.
Macron pointed to a recent drone attack on Leipzig airport as an example and said they were designed to intimidate Europe for its support of Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a similar warning on Thursday, warning of the threat of Russian strikes on countries that support Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the EU needs a Nato-like mechanism to better respond to hybrid attacks blamed on Russia.
She said the bloc also needs “a consensus on how to respond to certain incidents … that fall below armed aggression but clearly threaten our national security”.
The threats have not deterred most of Europe, with Zelenskyy welcoming eight European leaders to Ukraine on Friday.
He is hosting the inaugural summit of the so-called “Carpathian Eight,” which brings together Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary, with the European Union also involved.
The UK has committed to provide more than 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year, with 25,000 delivered to date, a figure set to increase ahead of the winter.
These include interceptors that take out Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and attack drones that help Ukraine hit back.
The UK has also agreed recently that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on components for the Storm Shadow long-range missile, which has been used to hit Russian targets so Ukraine can start manufacturing the weapons locally.
