Russian leader Vladimir Putin has told Britain to reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or Russia could hit UK military targets.
The warning comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham was told Britain could face Russian retaliation over its support for Ukraine and to be prepared for a ‘direct response’ from Moscow.
On Monday, the new premier swapped blueprints for the long-range Scalp missile with Moscow’s enemy in a visit to Kiev, that would allow Ukraine to build their own weapons, rather than rely on imports.
Moscow accused the UK of ‘participating’ in his war with Ukraine and warned that their forces were intent on identifying ‘the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment’ in order to destroy them.
As such, UK security chiefs have been primed for a Kremlin attack on Britain – either towards Mr Burnham or by targeting defence sites.
Major UK defence manufacturers participating in weapons production are believed to be stepping up their physical security and adopting measures to prevent cyber attacks.
Putin’s warning comes a day after CIA director John Ratcliffe made a surprise trip to Moscow where he 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.
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.
Putin has told Britain to reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or Russia could hit UK military targets
Andy Burnham with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday where the new premier handed over missile blueprints
US officials are concerned Moscow could attempt to seize Nato territory on its eastern flank within weeks, while fears are brewing of a major cyber attack.
Following the visit, the Kremlin hinted it was not looking for peace with the West, warning ‘it is too early to say if the deep crisis in US-Russia relations can be overcome’, before boasting ‘Ukraine is definitely losing the war’.
Before departing No. 10, Sir Keir Starmer had warned Russia could launch an attack on a Nato country in the next four years, western intelligence assessments had indicated.
Putin had earlier been advised the new incumbent in No10 would be ‘softer than [Sir Keir] Starmer’ but the despot’s hopes were dashed by the PM’s efforts to fortify the UK-Ukraine military alliance in recent weeks.
A senior source told the Daily Mail earlier this week: ‘The question being asked is, “How long do we keep poking the bear before it bites?”
‘An attack on the UK’s defence and security infrastructure is inevitable, based on our high-profile support for 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.
‘There had been some optimism in Moscow that he would be softer than Starmer on Ukraine.
‘That was not the case. Russia will want to make a statement, through actions rather than words. That could be a drone attack, or an arson attack. There are Russian sleeper cells in this country that could do either.’
The source added: ‘Russia is testing our security infrastructure on a daily basis… Something bigger is only a matter of time. Russia just needs to keep it low enough to avoid a military response by Nato.’
Other sources said that Russia’s sudden withdrawal of its ambassador to London was being taken as a sign that ‘something big is coming’.
It was reported earlier this week that Britons will be urged by the Government to stock up on tinned food and bottled water in case of emergencies like extreme weather, cyber attacks or hostile state action.
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
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