UK Drone Factories at Risk from 'Unknown Sources', Says Former Russian Minister
BBC News reports on a concerning statement made by a former Russian deputy foreign minister, Andrei Fedorov. During an appearance on BBC Newsnight, Fedorov suggested that UK drone factories could face attacks from "unknown sources" as a response to the sharing of blueprints for British-made cruise missile components with Ukraine.
Background:
Fedorov's comments come as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham prepares for a trip to the US next month to discuss Ukraine's defence needs with President Donald Trump and other European leaders. This visit follows Burnham's recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, where they chaired the first 'coalition of the willing' meeting set up by the UK and France.
Key Points:
- Blueprint Sharing: The UK has agreed to provide blueprints for British-made components of the Scalp missile (a French version of the Storm Shadow cruise missile), enabling Ukraine to produce this long-range weapon domestically.
- Russian Pressure: Fedorov attributes the pressure on Putin to "public opinion polls, it's coming from journalists, from mass media." He suggests that the response could target UK drone factories producing equipment for Ukraine.
- Potential Response: When asked about a possible semi-military response, Fedorov stated: "It could take the form of something might happen with enterprises, with factories which are producing drones for Ukraine... They could be attacked not by Russia, but by from unknown sources."
- Russian Perspective: These remarks align with statements made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who criticised the UK's decision to share missile blueprints and accused Britain of "adding fuel to the fire."
- Burnham's Response: In response to a question about who started the conflict, Burnham said, "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?"
Context:
Ukraine has been relying on American supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. However, with stockpiles dwindling due to the war in Iran, Ukraine faces increased vulnerability as Russia intensifies its strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter.