A former Russian deputy foreign minister has claimed that Vladimir Putin's regime has compiled a hitlist of "legal targets" in the UK and views the country as "evil number one". Andrei Fedorov, who served as an adviser to both the Prime Minister and Vice President of Russia, said plans for a "hybrid attack" were being made at the "highest levels of the Russian government".
Fedorov told the Daily Mail that sabotage and arson on UK sites with explicit connections to Ukraine were on the cards. This comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took over from Keir Starmer, continues to steadfastly support Ukraine.
Drone factory near RAF base identified as potential target
Reportedly being considered is a drone factory owned by a British-Ukrainian firm near one of the UK's most tightly guarded military sites. Fedorov claimed the Kremlin could target Ukrspecsystems, a factory located a stone's throw from RAF Mildenhall, the West Suffolk RAF base used to launch special operations, refuelling and intelligence-gathering missions.
He cautioned that, while Russia is interested in targeting the UK site, it would not do so in a fashion that might provoke a response from NATO.
UK and France to supply missile technology to Kyiv
The 71-year-old said: "The UK is evil number one. After the information that UK-made drones were used against Russian oil refineries, this has become a big anger [sic] in Russian society. Various experts are calling to punish by strike [sic] the UK, and it will be supported by the majority of Russian citizens."
The news follows Andy Burnham's pledge last Monday that the UK would allow Kyiv to access classified British technology, allowing the nation to start production of its own long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The decision was made in conjunction with France, which has agreed to supply its own missile technology, garnering immediate, furious reaction from Russia.
Ministry of Defence brushes away threats
Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, warned on Thursday that the two nations were "playing with fire". The Ministry of Defence however remained steadfast on its support and brushed away the threats made by Kremlin officials.
A spokesperson said: "Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion. Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies."
Those concerns have been similarly brushed away by other western officials, who have said the threats from Russia are "nothing new". The officials, who chose not to be named, told the BBC that threats were consistent with the Russian military doctrine designed to turn up pressure on the West. To that effect, they suggested hostile rhetoric from the nation was more an expression of the continued frustration with the war, and souring attitudes among the public.
Russia is failing to make major gains in Ukraine, and the defending nation has continued to conduct surgical deep infrastructure strikes to significant effect.
