Russia threatens to target Britain in response to its missile support for Ukraine

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Zakharova calls on London to abandon its “hostile stance” on the war in Ukraine, warning that it could escalate the conflict to an entirely new level.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Russia could strike British military targets both inside and outside Ukraine in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russia using British missiles.

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Britain’s decision to allow Ukraine access to classified information and plans relating to the components of Storm Shadow missiles, alongside France’s approval of a licence involving technology associated with the French SCALP version, has raised growing concerns in Moscow. Russia fears that this could alter the rules of the conflict and give Kyiv a more independent capability to produce strategic weapons.

Zakharova called on Britain to reverse what she described as London’s hostile stance regarding the war in Ukraine, warning that it could lead to an escalation of the conflict to an entirely new level.

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On Thursday, she said that France and Britain were “playing with fire” by supplying Ukraine with sensitive missile technology, warning that the move could have unpredictable consequences for Paris and London.

The significance of this new development lies in the fact that British and French support is no longer limited to supplying Kyiv with limited batches of Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles. It could also pave the way for Ukraine to gain access to the knowledge and rights required to manufacture these missiles domestically.

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France reportedly approved the granting of a production licence to Ukraine, before Britain provided classified information concerning the necessary British components. In practical terms, this could enable progress towards establishing a Ukrainian production or assembly capability for the missile.

This shift is of particular concern to Moscow because Ukraine’s stockpile of Western missiles has, until now, depended on decisions made by its allies and on the limited quantities they were willing to supply. Kyiv’s access to the technology could, in the long term, reduce its dependence on ready-made foreign deliveries and help establish an industrial base capable of compensating for part of its losses. This could provide Ukraine with a more sustainable capacity to carry out long-range strikes.

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Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are among the most advanced Western weapons supplied to Ukraine. They are long-range cruise missiles capable of carrying out precision strikes against fortified targets, military sites and strategic infrastructure, using advanced guidance systems and capabilities designed to penetrate air defences. For this reason, Moscow views the possibility of their being manufactured inside Ukraine as a threat that goes far beyond simply increasing the number of missiles available to Kyiv.

Russia’s concerns are not limited to the missiles’ range, but also extend to their ability to strike what may be described as “hardened targets”, including fortified military command centres, logistics depots and strategic military installations. Such targets are difficult to destroy using low-cost drones. Moreover, localising production within Ukraine could complicate Russia’s strategic calculations, as Moscow would have to continuously identify and target new manufacturing facilities, supply chains and storage sites.

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This escalation comes at a time when deep strikes by both sides are increasing. Russia has intensified its aerial attacks using missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kyiv has expanded its operations against energy and industrial facilities, as well as military targets inside Russia.

The British and French decisions also highlight the willingness of European capitals to expand their military role in supporting Ukraine, particularly in the areas of joint production and the transfer of defence-related expertise. This model could set a precedent for other projects and help Kyiv build a more independent defence sector rather than relying entirely on external assistance.

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