A former Russian deputy foreign minister and Kremlin adviser has warned that UK factories manufacturing drones for Ukraine could face strikes from "unknown sources". Andrei Fedorov, speaking to BBC Newsnight, said he could not "100% exclude" the possibility of "semi-military" measures following UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's visit to Kyiv.
Moscow Views Kyiv Visit as Provocation
Moscow views Burnham's trip as a direct provocation as the Kremlin presses on with its invasion of Ukraine. Russia first launched its full-scale invasion of its European neighbour in 2022, an escalation of earlier hostilities in 2014 when Russia secretly invaded and seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
For the UK Prime Minister, the Kyiv visit represents his maiden overseas journey since taking office at No 10. The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its "unwavering" backing for Ukraine, which has in return provided what officials have described as a "goldmine" of battlefield intelligence.
Possible 'Semi-Military' Measures
Fedorov went on to say that "sooner or later, there might be not only verbal but maybe some visible reaction from Russia towards the UK". When pressed to clarify what form this might take, he stated: "There are different discussions how it should look like - it might be so-called technical reaction, maybe some hackers attack from unknown source, not from official level of course."
"There might be different political steps and I cannot exclude 100% that there might be some semi-military, for example." When asked what "semi-military" meant, he told BBC Newsnight: "For example, something might happen with enterprises, with the factories which are producing drones for Ukraine, etc etc."
When quizzed on whether this suggested Russian military strikes on British soil, the adviser responded: "They could be attacked, not by Russia, but by... from unknown sources."
Scalp Missile Blueprints Decision
Britain has agreed to declassify technical blueprints for UK-manufactured components used in the Scalp missile, a French-built variant of the Storm Shadow that has already been deployed against targets inside Russia. The move has sparked fierce condemnation from Moscow, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warning it would add "fuel to the fire" of the ongoing conflict.
However, Burnham hit back during a press briefing in Kyiv, saying: "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?". During his visit to the Ukrainian capital, the Prime Minister called on Ukraine's allies to bolster supplies of interceptor missiles to Kyiv, as the country continues to endure relentless Russian bombardment.
Coalition of the Willing and Funding Gap
He co-chaired his inaugural coalition of the willing meeting, declaring that the assembled nations were doing "everything we can" to "dig into our own stocks and help others dig into their stocks". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made repeated appeals for additional US-manufactured Patriot interceptor missiles in recent months, as Kyiv's reserves continue to dwindle. Patriot supplies have been redirected to the Middle East since hostilities broke out with Iran, leaving Ukraine receiving considerably fewer missiles this year compared to previous years.
Russia has moved to exploit the shortfall by intensifying its ballistic missile attacks, claiming at least 23 lives and leaving more than 100 injured in just the past three days. Speaking later on Monday, Zelensky welcomed the coalition of the willing talks but said "now, we have to deal with a funding gap", raising the possibility of bringing forward part of the European loan to Ukraine, or unlocking frozen Russian assets. "The total gap is 27 billion," he said in a post on X. "One of the main options is to bring forward part of the European loan funding this year. But we should not give up on other ideas for how to ensure fair protection in this war - a war that Russia started and continues to prolong."
The Prime Minister also vowed "continuity" in Britain's stance on Ukraine, insisting "we're not a fair-weather friend, we're here for the long haul". "Obviously, with a change of prime minister, presumably people might think is there a change of policy - well, I'm here to say there isn't," he told ITV News.
Avengers AI Database Deal
Downing Street confirmed that Burnham and Zelensky have also signed a deal granting the Ministry of Defence, in partnership with selected British firms, access to Ukraine's "Avengers" AI database. The arrangement is anticipated to enable the UK to draw lessons from Ukraine's battlefield expertise and create AI-driven responses to national security threats facing both nations.
While the pact initially centres on defence and security matters, officials indicated it could "revolutionise all parts of public life, from air traffic control to train systems". The inaugural trial of this new partnership is set to involve AI sensors providing an additional security layer for military installations, protecting against protesters and hostile forces, while a second initiative will see the UK and Ukraine collaborate on low-power AI chips that could power a fresh generation of longer-lasting equipment able to operate in harsher conditions.
No 10 described the so-called "Avengers AI Labs" as "a goldmine of battlefield data" which would provide British researchers with "unparalleled access to real-world operational insights and the opportunity to 'plug and play'".
