LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) – Britain will support Ukraine “100%” against Russia and remain at its side “in its hour of need”, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday after Moscow warned London of “consequences” for supplying drones to Kyiv.
Russia accused Britain of deepening its involvement in the war following a report by the Times newspaper on Saturday that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” the embassy said in a statement posted on its Telegram channel earlier on Tuesday.
“The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kiev’s (Kyiv’s) terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay.”
Burnham said this was the “UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100% against this illegal war” led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
Ukraine has been using deep-strike drones to hit oil refineries and logistics facilities.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British drones had been used.
In June, Britain said it would provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million ($996 million) funding package.
Asked about the Russian embassy comments, a defence ministry spokesperson said before Burnham’s comments: “Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion.”
Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly warned Britain and other Western allies that their support for Kyiv, including the supply of equipment, could provoke retaliatory measures and increase the risk of a broader confrontation.
(Reporting by William James, Muvija M and Sam Tabahriti, editing by Elizabeth Piper)
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