News | Mail Online
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Mark Nicol, Dan Hodges
Story summary
Russia has been warning Britain that it will face consequences for supplying drones to Ukraine, which have been used to attack targets on Russian territory. In response to reports of British-made drones being used in strikes against Russia, the Russian embassy in London said "London's actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer". The UK has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, committing around 25 billion pounds ($47 billion) in support, including 16 billion pounds in military aid.
The use of British-made drones against Russia is believed to be the first time they have been used for long-range strikes against Russian territory. Ukraine has been using these drones to hit oil refineries and logistics facilities, causing significant economic damage, with reports suggesting that the attacks have caused over £35bn in economic damage.
The UK's Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British drones had been used, but a spokesperson said that "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."
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, at least five people have been killed and more than 10 injured in the latest wave of Russian strikes, officials have said. The attacks caused fires across the capital, Kyiv, including at a book market. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure.
Separately, a Russian missile attack killed 10 people on Tuesday in a village in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, a store and at least seven cars.
Written for “Russia-Ukraine Conflict Escalates” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 26 other(s) covering the same event.
If he chooses, Putin could order attacks that would cause chaos... and serious loss of life
uncertain
that → choose → life
- Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Andy Burnham has been warned that Britain faces Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine.
Security experts have told the Prime Minister to be prepared for a 'direct response' from Vladimir Putin.
asserted
experts → get → Putin
The Kremlin is set to target the UK, sources said, after miscalculating Mr Burnham's commitment to Kyiv.
asserted
sources → set → Kyiv
Putin had been advised the new incumbent in No10 would be 'softer than [Sir Keir] Starmer'.
asserted
incumbent → advise → Starmer
But the Russian president's hopes were dashed by the Prime Minister's moves to fortify the UK-Ukraine military alliance in recent weeks, swapping missile blueprints and battlefield AI with Moscow's enemy.
asserted
hopes → dash → enemy
Putin is also believed to be coming under pressure within Russia to challenge Britain's increasing involvement in the conflict.
asserted
Putin → believe → conflict
The shock alert for the PM came as the head of the US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) made an emergency visit to Moscow yesterday.
asserted
head → come → Moscow
It was reported that spy chief John Ratcliffe issued a warning to the Kremlin not to escalate the conflict in Ukraine, either by using a nuclear weapon or targeting Kyiv's Western allies.
asserted
Ratcliffe → report → allies
The 'just don't do it' advice was based on US intelligence that Russia is primed to act immediately and dramatically after its campaign on the battlefield stalled again.
asserted
campaign → base → battlefield
the PM has been warned that Britain faces Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine
Mr Burnham is shown the rubble and wreckage left on the buildings and site of a strike near the Lukanivska market in Kyiv
UK security chiefs were on Tuesday night primed for a Kremlin attack on Britain – either towards Mr Burnham or by targeting defence sites.
A senior source told the Daily Mail: 'The question being asked is, "How long do we keep poking the bear before it bites?"
asserted
it → warn → bear
'An attack on the UK's defence and security infrastructure is inevitable, based on our high-profile support for Ukraine.
asserted
attack → base → Ukraine
Ourselves and the French are front and centre, and Burnham's visit to Kyiv and his forthright stance will have been noticed at the Kremlin.
asserted
visit → notice → Kremlin
Russia will want to make a statement, through actions rather than words.
asserted
Russia → want → words
There are Russian sleeper cells in this country that could do either.
uncertain
that → be → either
The source added: 'Russia is testing our security infrastructure on a daily basis...
asserted
Russia → add → basis
Russia just needs to keep it low enough to avoid a military response by Nato.'
asserted
Russia → need → Nato
Vladimir Putin is believed to be coming under pressure within Russia to challenge Britain's increasing involvement in the conflict
In June, UK forces boarded a Russian shadow fleet vessel for the first time
A video distributed by Moscow which is said to show a Russian soldier launching a drone in an undisclosed location in Ukraine
asserted
soldier → believe → Ukraine
Other sources said that Russia's sudden withdrawal of its ambassador to London was being taken as a sign that 'something big is coming'.
asserted
something → say → sign
Major UK defence manufacturers participating in weapons production are stepping up their physical security and adopting measures to prevent cyber attacks.
A Kremlin adviser brazenly suggested factories producing drones for Ukraine could be targeted by 'unknown sources'.
uncertain
factories → participate → sources
Former Russian deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov said he could not '100 per cent exclude' the prospect of 'semi-military' action against Britain following Mr Burnham's visit to Kyiv on Monday.
uncertain
cent → say → Monday
During the trip, which was the Prime Minister's first overseas since entering No10, the UK reiterated its 'unwavering' support for Ukraine, which in turn handed over what officials have called a 'goldmine' of battlefield data to help bolster British security.
asserted
officials → enter → security
Mr Fedorov said 'sooner or later, there might be not only verbal but maybe some visible reaction from Russia towards the UK'.
uncertain
Fedorov → say → UK
Asked to elaborate on what this might look like, he said: 'It might be so-called technical reaction, maybe some hackers attack from [an] unknown source.
'
uncertain
It → ask → source
There might be different political steps and I cannot exclude 100 per cent that there might be some semi-military [action].'
uncertain
I → exclude → cent
Pressed to define 'semi-military', he told the BBC's Newsnight: 'For example, something might happen with enterprises, with the factories which are producing drones for Ukraine.'
Asked whether this meant factories in Britain being attacked militarily, the Kremlin adviser said: 'They could be attacked, not by Russia, but by... from unknown sources.'
uncertain
They → press → sources
In April, a Russian Su-35 fighter flew within 20ft of a RAF Rivet Joint intelligence-gathering plane
The vulnerability of Britain's energy infrastructure to online attack by either Russia, Iran or China has been exposed recently.
asserted
vulnerability → fly → Russia
A hydroelectric plant was shut down for four days last month after being targeted by Iranian hackers.
asserted
plant → shut → hackers
Russia has become more brazen in recent months, with its jets flying close to British military aircraft over the Black Sea.
asserted
jets → become → Sea
In April, a Russian Su-35 fighter flew within 20ft of a RAF Rivet Joint intelligence-gathering plane.
asserted
fighter → fly → plane
The Ministry of Defence condemned the act as 'dangerous and unacceptable'.
asserted
Ministry → condemn → act
In June, UK forces boarded a Russian shadow fleet vessel for the first time.
asserted
forces → board → time
Royal Marine commandos landed on the Smyrtos oil tanker in the English Channel, in a major blow to Russia's war chest.
asserted
commandos → land → chest
Russia is preparing to mobilise 300,000 troops to fight in Ukraine, where it has sustained 1.5million casualties since invading in 2022.
asserted
it → prepare → 2022
Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE.
asserted
news → get → newsletter
