Moscow has slammed Britain for supplying drones for long-range strikes inside Russia, warning this makes the UK a participant in the war.
Vladimir Putin’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out as Prime Minister Andy Burnham stressed that he is 100% behind Ukraine ‘against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.’
Burnham added: ‘Britain is providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict by previous prime ministers, it remains the case with me.
‘We are not fairweather friends.’
Foreign Minister Lavrov spoke to Russian television and said: ‘This only means one thing. The president [Putin] warned of our right to act in any part of the oceans if someone encroaches on our interests, on our property.
‘We have the same right to view the proudly declared direct participation of British missile forces in strikes against Russia as participation in a war, with all the ensuing consequences.’
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Russia is outraged over the revelation that new British long-range drones are being supplied and used by Ukraine for strikes deep inside Putin’s territory.
Earlier, the Russian Embassy in London warned that the deeper the UK becomes embroiled in Ukraine, ‘the higher the price it will pay’.
The latest Ukrainian long-range strikes early today reportedly saw missiles hit a major explosives plant in Dzerzhinsk, 230 miles east of Moscow.
The Sverdlov Explosives Plant is one of the largest in Russia and a key supplier to Putin’s military machine.
A picture from Astra media reportedly showed a large plume of smoke near the factory, which is sanctioned by other Western countries.
Russians are becoming increasingly concerned over the new deep reach of drones and missiles deployed by Ukraine to target strategic targets deep inside the country.
Buildings were also hit today in other Russian cities – Tula, the location of multiple defence plants – and Ufa, a major oil capital.
An oil refinery was hit in Ufa, sparking yet another fire as Russia grapples with critical petrol shortages and long queues.
In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, two people were killed and ten injured in a Russian guided aerial bomb attack on a residential area.
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