Russia has accused “British specialists” of helping Ukraine carry out a deadly missile strike on a munitions facility, escalating tensions over Western support for Kyiv.
Ukrainian officials said the strike targeted one of Russia’s most significant military industrial sites earlier this week — the Kremniy El plant. The facility is known as Russia’s second-largest microelectronics manufacturer and is considered important to the country’s defence sector.
Russian authorities reported that at least seven civilians were killed and 42 others injured in what they described as a “terrorist missile attack”.
Kremlin Blames Britain For Missile Strike On Kremniy El Military Facility
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov alleged that the strike could not have happened without assistance from the UK. “It is obvious that the launch of these missiles was impossible without British specialists,” he told reporters.
“We are aware of this, we know it well, and we naturally take it into account. In order to prevent such barbaric actions by the Kyiv regime from continuing, the special military operation is being conducted.”
Russia’s foreign ministry echoed that claim, stating that Western governments should bear responsibility for the consequences of the attack.
It said: “Western states bear full responsibility for the consequences of this strike, which resulted in civilian casualties. Britain has gone beyond the norms of international law and is ready… to take the conflict to a fundamentally new level.”
Ukraine And UK Reject Russian Claims Over Storm Shadow Strike
Ukrainian officials rejected Moscow’s interpretation of events, insisting that the strike was aimed at the military facility rather than civilian infrastructure.
Kyiv said the attack was carried out using Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied by the UK.
A British official also pushed back against Russia’s claims when speaking to the Ukrainian news outlet The Kyiv Independent.
The official said Britain’s support for Ukraine reflects the country’s “clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks”.
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“We are clear that the equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defence of Ukraine. Ukraine has the right of self-defence,” the official said.
They added that the UK does not “comment on operational details” when asked about Russia’s allegations of direct British involvement in the operation.
Britain has been supplying missiles to Ukraine since May 2023, allowing Kyiv to target positions in Russian-occupied territories.
Putin’s War In Ukraine Continues Amid International Pressure
The criticism comes as Russian president Vladimir Putin continues to pursue his military campaign in Ukraine.
Russian forces currently control around a fifth of Ukrainian territory and continue to press their offensive, even as the United States attempts to broker potential peace negotiations.
Those diplomatic efforts have faced repeated setbacks amid Moscow’s insistence on its existing war aims.
Throughout the nearly four-year conflict, Russia has repeatedly criticised the UK and other Western allies for supplying military support to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, International Criminal Court has issued an international arrest warrant for Putin over allegations relating to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
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