A Russian politician has warned that Moscow is "watching very seriously" and has "plans" to strike England "very painfully" if certain lines are crossed. State Duma deputy Adalby Shkhagoshev made the threat during an appearance on the TV programme 60 Minutes.
When quizzed by presenter Olga Skabeeva as to why NATO allies had not yet been targeted, he responded: "I see it and I understand it; we're also being asked these questions. For example, why aren't we striking England right now? We're watching it very seriously; we have our plans."
Warning over "certain lines"
Shkhagoshev added: "As soon as certain lines I've mentioned are crossed by England, we will certainly use the kinds of weapons that will strike England very painfully." The "certain lines" he referred to relate to a "serious threat to our national security and to our borders", which he had outlined earlier in the programme.
Military analyst Mikhail Khodaryonok further warned that Russia possesses the capability to strike Britain, cautioning that such action would come "sooner or later". He stated: "As to the hypothetical strikes against the objects of the United Kingdom's military-industrial complex, Britain's leadership has to realise that sooner or later, they will have to answer for their actions."
Map shows five potential targets
He added: "If not today the tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, but in the historically observable future after all. We have all technical means for a strike against the military-industrial complex of Great Britain."
As the guests were speaking, a map repeatedly appeared on screen, seemingly indicating potential targets across the UK. While the exact details remain unclear due to the content being in Russian, the map pinpoints five locations across the country, in the approximate areas of London, Norfolk, Bristol, Bath, and Edinburgh.
Foreign Ministry warning
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also issued a stark warning on Thursday, stating that London would not escape accountability for providing Kyiv with Storm Shadow missiles and the technology required to manufacture them. She said: "Any British military facilities in Ukraine and beyond could become targets for Russian strikes if Kyiv uses British weapons against Russia."
Zakharova threatened that British military installations both within Ukraine and further afield could face Russian strikes should Kyiv deploy British weaponry against Russia. She added: "Any British military facilities and equipment in Ukraine and beyond could be targeted in response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russian territory."
