Putin Ally Has A Bleak Warning For Britain As Tensions Rise

A key ally to Vladimir Putin has warned British factories could now be targeted by Russia after Andy Burnham stepped up support for Ukraine.

The prime minister announced this week during a trip to Kyiv that he would be handing the blueprints for building long-range missiles to our Ukrainian allies.

It was also confirmed last week that British drones had been used in Ukrainian strikes deep within Russia.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Putin’s adviser and former deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov said there could be a significant backlash as a result.

He claimed there may be a “technical reaction” or “hackers’ attack from unknown sources – not from an official level, of course”.

He said there could be different “political steps” and he cannot “100% exclude a semi-military” response.

“For example, something might be happening with enterprises, the factories, which are producing drones for Ukraine etc. etc,” he said.

Presenter Adam Fleming asked: “British factories in Britain could be attacked militarily by Russia?”

“They could be attacked not by Russia but from unknown sources,” Fedorov said.

Asked if he would support that, the ally said: “No, I don’t think it’s OK because the problem is we are now facing in front of the danger that Ukraine conflict will be beyond Ukrainian borders, and remembering that the UK is a member of Nato, and UK is a nuclear state.

“The risk is of course much higher than it was before, even a couple of months ago.”

Fleming questioned how such an attack could be legal under international law, to which the Putin ally hit back: “Frankly, who cares about international law?

“The problem is for Russian society that so many people are saying the president is waiting too long, not answering the UK.

“The answer should be made even earlier than now.”

Asked again why there would be a military response, he said: “The UK is, from Kremlin’s point of view, is a much more involved 1787647654.”

“Moscow is considering steps by the UK prime minister as direct military involvement in this conflict,” he added.

He added that “hackers can do anything”, admitting that security and government facilities would likely be targeted, especially if related to the production of drones.

His alarming remarks follow a growing spat between the UK and Russia over British backing for Ukraine.

Moscow accused Burnham of adding “fuel to the fire” of the Ukraine war on Monday over the PM’s decision to give Kyiv key missile blueprints.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “Britain is participating in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime.

“Britain is methodically and consistently adding fuel to the fire and methodically and consistently plotting to prevent a peaceful settlement process.”

However, Burnham brushed off the comments, saying: “Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it.”

He later told broadcasters that he would not be put off by the “outrageous threats” from Russia during his first official visit to Kyiv as prime minister.

The PM also insisted he had not gone further than his predecessors with his backing for Ukraine.

He said: “We’re not doing anything different. This is continuity. We’ve said we would support Ukraine.

“We did so from the start and we’re carrying on supporting them with the technical backup that they need this far into the conflict.

“Russia could stop this war tomorrow if it so choose. But when that hasn’t happened, obviously it’s right that UK continues to provide steadfast support to Ukraine. We’re not a fair weather friend, we’re here for the long haul.”

He continued: “Obviously with a change of prime minister, presumably people might think is there a change of policy. Well, I’m here to say there isn’t. I’m going to do what my predecessors have done.”

He added: “I’m doing what I think is the right thing to do. Where we see an illegal invasion on the borders of Europe if we don’t take a firm stand, who would be next? It’s right to do this.”

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