Russia has issued a stark warning to several locations across Europe, including the UK, claiming they could become military targets over alleged support for Ukraine.
Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia’s security council, released a list of 23 sites he said were linked to the production of drones and military equipment for Ukraine. He warned that these locations could be considered legitimate targets by Russian forces.
In a message posted online, Medvedev said: “The list of European facilities which make drones and other equipment is a list of potential targets for the Russian armed forces… When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next.”
Among the sites named were locations in the UK, including areas in Reading, London and Leicester, as well as a road near RAF Mildenhall, a major base used by the United States Air Force. Russian authorities also identified companies they allege are involved in drone production, alongside additional sites across Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Israel.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that European countries were increasing support for Ukraine’s drone capabilities, describing it as a move that risks escalating the conflict further. The statement warned that such actions could lead to “unpredictable consequences” and accused European leaders of “dragging” their countries deeper into the war.
It added that the growing involvement of European states could effectively turn them into a “strategic rear” for Ukraine, increasing their exposure to potential retaliation. The warning comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations over continued military and logistical support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky cautioned that the UK could also face non-military forms of retaliation. He suggested the possibility of covert operations designed to create fear and instability, referencing previous incidents such as the poisoning in Salisbury.
He said such actions would aim less at causing casualties and more at creating “a sense of vulnerability” in Western countries.
The developments underline growing concerns about the potential widening of the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders, as geopolitical tensions continue to intensify.
