Russia has issued a new threat.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (Image: Getty)
Russia has issued a new threat to strike arms factories supplying weapons to Ukraine, meaning several major UK towns and cities could come under fire. Moscow’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned such facilities are legitimate and potential military targets for Russia.
The comments are the latest in a string of threats to Europe as Moscow looks to weaken support for Ukraine. Ms Zakharova, a key ally of Vladimir Putin, said Ukraine’s European allies are “directly involved” in the war. She also warned that people would be “mistaken” if they believed factories supplying weapons to Kyiv from outside Ukraine’s borders are “safe” from attack.
Moscow’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (Image: Getty)
She told a press briefing: “Weapons factories in European countries that produce arms for Ukraine are potential military targets for Russia, and one should not assume that military factories outside Ukrainian territory which produce weapons for the Kyiv regime will be safe. Anyone who thinks so is mistaken.”
Ms Zakharova added: “European countries are directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. They are not merely providing aid. By opening arms factories and joint ventures, they are fully involved.
“And this only delays a resolution to the conflict rather than bringing it closer, as some forces in Europe think or imagine.”
Vladimir Putin’s Russia is ramping up threats to the West (Image: Getty)
The senior Kremlin official made the comments in response to a question about Poland potentially hosting a factory to produce Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.
Russia has intensified drone and missile barrages against Kyiv in recent weeks as Ukraine faces a shortage of the key interceptors, largely due to the Iran war.
Britain has been one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters since the start of Russia‘s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The UK is set to provide 150,000 drones to Kyiv by the end of the year.
While not clear where these are being produced, Swindon has become Britain’s ‘drone capital’ with huge facilities for the technology now based in the Wiltshire town.
Air defence missiles produced in Belfast have been gifted to Ukraine, while artillery barrels manufactured in Sheffield are also being delivered to the wartorn country.
The British government has not always disclosed specific factory locations, almost certainly for security reasons.
However, there is a major defence fooprint across the UK.
Manufacturers are also based in areas such as Glasgow, Telford and Bristol.
Earlier this month, Mr Putin said it is a “military secret” whether or not Russia is weighing up possible strikes on British military sites.
The Russian despot was speaking as tensions again skyrocketed after Britain announced it would hand Ukraine with blueprints for Storm Shadow missiles.
On Wednesday morning, it emerged Russia has threatened to “deploy its entire arsenal” if NATO threatens Kaliningrad.
NATO condemned what it called “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric” after Russia sent a warning to the alliance over its Baltic exclave.
European nations are bracing for an intensfying campaign of Russian sabotage and hybrid attacks, aimed at undermining support for Ukraine.
Officials from countries along NATO’s eastern flank have warned of increased drone incursions, cyberattacks and sabotage as tensions continue to rise.
This week, Estonia accused Russia of being behind an arson attack on a defence firm supplying uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal said last month’s attack on Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was ordered by Russian special services.
Russia denied the allegation.