Andy Burnham has vowed Britain will continue supporting Ukraine “100%” after Russia threatened the UK with “consequences” over reports that British-made drones have been used to strike targets inside Russian territory.
Tensions between London and Moscow have escalated after the Russian embassy accused Britain of deliberately deepening its involvement in the war, warning the UK would ultimately have to answer for its actions. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has since gone further, saying Moscow reserves the right to consider Britain a participant in the conflict over what Russia claims is direct British involvement in Ukrainian military operations. Burnham has made clear the threats won’t change Britain’s position, saying on Tuesday the UK would continue backing Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s invasion and remain alongside Kyiv in its “hour of need.”
Russia warns Britain it will pay a ‘price’
The row started after The Times reported drones manufactured by British companies had been used by Ukrainian forces to strike targets deep inside Russia. Britain’s Ministry of Defence hasn’t confirmed British-made drones were involved. That didn’t stop a furious response from Moscow.
Russia’s embassy in London accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict, claiming Britain was attempting to inflict damage on Russia through its support for Kyiv, and issued a direct warning: “London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer.” The statement added that the deeper Britain’s involvement became, the greater the “price” it would pay.
Russia’s repeatedly criticised Western countries for supplying Ukraine with weapons since Putin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. This latest warning comes amid growing focus specifically on Ukraine’s ability to strike targets far beyond the front line, using long-range drones to hit oil refineries, logistics facilities and other strategically important sites inside Russia as it tries to undermine the infrastructure supporting Moscow’s war effort.
Burnham: Britain will support Ukraine ‘100%’
Burnham responded defiantly when asked about Moscow’s warning. “This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100% against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.” He stressed Britain was providing support for Ukraine to defend itself, and pointed out successive British governments have maintained that support throughout the conflict. “We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
That’s a clear rejection of Moscow’s attempt to pressure Britain into scaling back its military support. Britain’s been one of Ukraine’s most significant European backers since the invasion began. In June, the UK announced plans to provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752m package.
Burnham’s made continued support for Ukraine a prominent part of his foreign policy since entering Downing Street too, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was his first international visitor after becoming prime minister in July, with the government describing the relationship between Britain and Ukraine as an “unbreakable bond.”
Lavrov escalates the warning further
Russian rhetoric has since intensified. Lavrov said Russia could regard Britain as a participant in the war given what Moscow alleges is direct British involvement, arguing military assistance supplied to Ukraine could affect how Russia views Britain’s role and how it chooses to respond.
Britain and its allies have consistently rejected Russia’s argument that supplying Ukraine with weapons makes NATO countries participants in the war. The British government’s position remains that Ukraine has a right to defend itself against Russia’s invasion, and that supplying Kyiv with military equipment doesn’t put Britain at war with Moscow. This dispute still shows how sensitive attacks inside Russia have become, Ukraine’s increasingly able to strike military, industrial and energy infrastructure hundreds of miles beyond its border, with some attacks reaching the Moscow region itself.
Ukraine launches huge drone attack on Moscow region
This diplomatic confrontation comes as the drone war intensifies dramatically. Russian authorities said Ukraine launched hundreds of drones toward the Moscow region in a major overnight attack this week. Ukraine’s increasingly relied on long-range drones to pressure Russian logistics and infrastructure, while Russia continues its own missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
At the same time Moscow was warning Britain over its support for Kyiv, Russian attacks continued inside Ukraine. A Russian missile strike on the village of Pechenihy in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region killed 10 people on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian authorities. Zelenskyy called the attack “brutal” and vowed Ukraine would respond.
The developments underline how dangerous a phase the war has entered more than four years after Putin’s full-scale invasion began. Long-range drones have made it possible for Ukraine to hit targets much deeper inside Russian territory, while Moscow keeps launching missile and drone attacks against Ukraine. Britain’s involvement supplying Kyiv with military equipment is now being used by Moscow to directly threaten London with retaliation. For now, Burnham’s answer hasn’t shifted: despite Russia’s warnings of a “price” and “consequences,” Britain says its support for Ukraine isn’t changing.
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