A prominent Russian propagandist has called on President Vladimir Putin to authorise a strike on a UK factory producing Storm Shadow missiles, escalating tensions between Russia and NATO. Speaking on Kremlin-controlled television, Vladimir Solovyov dismissed concerns about attacking Britain directly, a move that would mark a significant escalation and likely trigger a wider NATO response.
“Every time I read about another Storm Shadow missile strike deep into Russia, I genuinely don't understand why we don't hit the Storm Shadow factory in the UK,” Solovyov said. “What's the problem? It's the UK. So what? What's so valuable there? Shakespeare's legacy isn't tied to an island. What's so valuable about that Storm Shadow factory?” He also criticised British cuisine as “insanely tasteless, disgusting.”
The comments follow claims by Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea that Ukraine attacked Sevastopol using Storm Shadow missiles. Mikhail Razvozhayev, Russia's illegitimate governor of Crimea, posted on social media that the missiles were involved. The Ukrainian government has not commented on the reports, which remain unverified.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed on May 25 that its air force used Storm Shadow missiles to destroy a Russian command post in occupied Luhansk Oblast. The missiles, a joint British-French project, have been supplied to Ukraine with permission from both nations to strike strategic targets inside Russia. Ukraine continues to target Russian oil depots and arms facilities to slow Moscow's war effort.
