Russia threatens UK over drone use in Ukraine strikes

Moscow has threatened the United Kingdom with "consequences" after reports British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia's mainland for the first time.

Ukraine used drones made by two UK companies as part of a so-called deep strike campaign, the Sunday Times reported.

Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia in 2026, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones increasingly targeting military industries and energy facilities.

It has also targeted giant depots for Wildberries – Russia's largest online retailer – burning billions of pounds of merchandise and bringing the war home to the Russian public more than four years into Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's embassy to the UK said in a statement on Monday the reports "confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis" and accused Britain of "seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy".

"London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer," it said.

"The deeper its involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv's terrorist machinery, the higher the price it will pay."

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "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.

"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."

Meanwhile, Moldova's foreign ministry condemned the violation of the country's airspace by an unidentified aerial object that later exploded on Monday, it said in a statement on social media.

Moldova shares a border with Ukraine and supports that country in Russia's war in Ukraine. It has dealt with numerous incidents of drones flying over its territory and debris near the border.

The aerial object entered Moldovan airspace and exploded shortly after, near the settlement of Talmaza, close to the border with Ukraine, Moldovan authorities said.

The explosion set grass on fire but there were no casualties, they said. They did not identify the origin of the object.

"This incident constitutes a serious violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova and poses a direct risk to the safety of our citizens. Such incidents are unacceptable," the foreign ministry said in its statement.