Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov escalated Moscow’s threats against Britain on Tuesday, saying Russia could regard British involvement in strikes on Russian territory as direct participation in the war in Ukraine – “with all ensuing consequences.”
Moscow has the right to consider the involvement of British forces in attacks on Russian territory as participation in the war, Lavrov told Russian state television, according to TASS.
“I feel sorry for the UK if it stays with Ukraine until the very end,” Lavrov said.
He also invoked an earlier warning by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow reserved the right to respond wherever it believed Russian interests or property were threatened.
The remarks came after the Russian Embassy in London accused Britain of escalating the conflict following reports that British-made drones had been used in Ukrainian deep strikes against targets inside Russia.
The warning followed a report by The Sunday Times that Ukrainian forces had used drones produced by two British companies in deep-strike operations over the past six months, including attacks on Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure.
One of the systems identified by the newspaper was the jet-powered Nyan drone manufactured by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems.
Britain, however, has rejected Moscow’s threats.
As Kyiv Post reported earlier, a UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said tthat “Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine” and remains committed to giving Kyiv the equipment it needs to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies,” the spokesperson said.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reinforced that position Tuesday, saying the UK would continue to support Ukraine “100%” and would not be intimidated by Moscow’s warnings.
“We are not fair-weather friends,” Burnham said, adding that Britain would remain alongside Ukraine “in its hour of need.”