Britain will continue to support Ukraine “100%” in its war against Russia and stand by Kyiv “in its hour of need”, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday, after Moscow warned London of consequences over its military assistance to Ukraine.
Russia accused Britain of becoming increasingly involved in the conflict following a report by The Times on Saturday claiming that British-made drones had been used in long-range strikes against targets inside Russia for the first time.
The Russian embassy in London said Britain’s actions would inevitably carry consequences and warned that the cost would increase as its involvement in the war deepens.
“The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv’s terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay,” the embassy said in a statement posted on Telegram.
Burnham defended Britain’s position, saying the country was simply following through on its longstanding commitment to support Ukraine against what he described as Russia’s illegal war.
“This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100% against this illegal war,” he said.
“We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones to strike strategic targets in Russia, including oil refineries and logistics facilities, as the conflict continues.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British-made drones had been involved in the reported strikes.
However, in June, Britain announced plans to provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million (approximately RM4.1 billion) funding package.
Responding to Moscow’s warning, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said Britain remained committed to supporting Ukraine and providing the equipment needed to defend itself against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
Russia has repeatedly warned Britain and other Western countries since the war began in 2022 that continued military support for Kyiv could trigger retaliatory measures and increase the risk of a wider confrontation.
The latest exchange highlights the growing tensions between Moscow and London as Western military assistance to Ukraine continues.
