For the first time, drones manufactured in the United Kingdom have been used to carry out strikes on targets within mainland Russia. These unmanned aerial vehicles, produced by two distinct British companies, have targeted a range of military and industrial facilities, including refineries and warehouses belonging to the Russian online retailer Wildberries.
According to reports, these strikes have inflicted economic damage estimated to exceed £35 billion. A military source confirmed the deployment of UK-made drones, marking a new phase in the conflict that follows earlier use of British Storm Shadow missiles.
Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, have acknowledged attacks on Russian territory involving drones equipped with UK components. Notably, a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region was among the targets.
UK Support to Ukraine
In April, the UK Ministry of Defence announced a significant supply of drones to Ukraine, including long-range strike models. The ministry emphasized its unwavering commitment to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion, pledging over 150,000 drones this year alongside advanced technologies such as Stone Cloak devices designed to disrupt Russian air defences and innovative low-cost cruise missiles.
Recent incidents include a large-scale drone assault on Moscow, where approximately 600 Ukrainian drones were launched overnight. Russian authorities reported that about one-third of these were intercepted, with three injuries recorded. Among the damaged sites was a Wildberries warehouse, a frequent target since July, as Kyiv aims to disrupt Russian military logistics.
