Vladimir Putin has placed 23 UK towns and cities in his crosshairs by calling possible strikes on British military sites a military secret over Ukraine support. The Russian president was asked how Moscow would respond to the UK giving Ukraine blueprints for the Scalp missile, the French version of Britain's Storm Shadow. Britain has already supplied the missiles for use against targets inside Russia.
Putin's response
When pressed on whether Russia was weighing strikes on UK military sites on British territory recently, Putin replied: "That's a secret, a military secret." He added that any military facilities in Ukraine – British or otherwise – were legitimate targets. The comments came after Russia accused Britain of "playing with fire" over the technology transfer.
The 23 locations previously identified
While Putin named no specific places in this statement, earlier lists circulated by senior Russian figures, including former deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin, have identified 23 UK towns and cities – primarily sites linked to defence manufacturing, naval bases and aerospace – as potential targets. These are: Glasgow, Belfast, Fivemiletown, Barrow-in-Furness, Bolton, Telford, Aberporth, Merthyr Tydfil, Glasgow, Bristol, HMNB Devonport, Yeovil, Aldermaston, London, Stevenage, Ampthill, Derby, Sheffield, Warton & Samlesbury, Newton Aycliffe, Tyne & Wear, Edinburgh and Rosyth.
The sites are associated with companies including BAE Systems, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Airbus and others involved in UK and Ukrainian military production. Such lists have been referenced in Russian commentary whenever Britain expands support for Kyiv, forming part of a pattern of nuclear and conventional threats from Kremlin-linked voices.
UK response
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking in Kyiv recently, rejected the pressure, saying: "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?" referring to Russia's invasion. He vowed that "outrageous threats" would not stop British support and called Ukraine "Europe's protector".
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the blueprint decision amounted to "direct involvement of British missile forces" and "participation in the war, with all the ensuing consequences".
Sanctions and defence measures
Chancellor John Healey has announced further steps against Russian sanctions evasion, including a nationwide alert on the "A7 network" used to fund the war and higher fines for breaches. The Government remains committed to raising defence spending towards 3% of GDP.
Putin's refusal to rule out action keeps rhetorical pressure high. His statement, however, gave no operational details, confirmed targets or nuclear thresholds beyond the deliberate ambiguity of a "military secret". British policy is unchanged: support for Ukraine continues, and responsibility for the conflict lies solely with Russia.
