UK defies Moscow threats and doubles down on drone support for Ukraine

Burnham said Britain was doing what it had long promised — backing Ukraine “100% against this illegal war” waged by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported on Aug. 18.

“We are not fair-weather friends,” Burnham said. “We will be there for Ukraine when it needs us, and that will not change.”

The Times reported on Aug. 16 that Ukraine had used British drones over the previous six months to strike targets deep inside Russia, including oil refineries in Volgograd, Yaroslavl and near Moscow.

The aircraft reportedly include the jet-powered Nyan drone, produced by a BAE Systems subsidiary, and drones from another British manufacturer whose identity has been withheld for security reasons.

The drones can fly up to 1,800 kilometers, cost far less than long-range missiles and can be deployed in large numbers to overwhelm Russian air defenses, The Times reported.

The Russian Embassy later threatened Britain with “consequences” over the drone supplies and accused London of helping escalate the war.

Britain’s Defense Ministry has not confirmed whether British drones were used to strike Russian oil refineries and logistics sites, Reuters reported.