Russia has blamed Britain for Ukraine’s devastating drone attacks on its airfields.
And it claimed that this country’s alleged role in the strike that destroyed as many as 40 Russian aircraft could lead to ‘World War Three’.
The Kremlin turned its sights on Britain on Thursday night with its ambassador Andrei Kelin insisting that the UK military’s advanced technology helped Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia. He offered no evidence for the claim.
He issued his warning as President Trump told White House reporters he did not believe Russia and Ukraine would sign a peace deal.
The Russian bombers and other large aircraft were destroyed at five separate bases as part of the audacious Operation Spiderweb launched on Sunday.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Kelin claimed Britain had played a major role in the covert operation by providing intelligence.
Mr Kelin, who has previously threatened the UK over its support for Ukraine, said: ‘This kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geo-spatial data, which can only be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington.
‘I don’t believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, but it has not been denied by Britain.
Andrea Kelin, Russia’s ambassador to the UK, has blamed Britain for Ukraine’s devastating drone attacks on its airfields (pictured: Mr Kelin in April)
As many as 40 Russian aircraft at five separate bases were destroyed by Ukraine as part of the covert Operation Spiderweb launched on Sunday
‘We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together in Ukraine.’
He warned that Ukraine’s actions were ‘bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation’ and said Kyiv should ‘not try to engulf World War Three’.
Geo-spatial data, which includes information about the Earth’s surface and features and has many civilian applications, is used by military forces around the world for planning, targeting, navigation, and intelligence gathering.
Eighteen months in the planning, Operation Spiderweb involved parts for drones being smuggled inside Russia before being assembled near the bases and hidden inside trucks.
Once Ukrainian saboteurs had retreated to safety, the trucks opened remotely and the drones flew over the defenceless Russian aircraft parked on the runways.
While Ukrainian estimates of how many Russian bombers they destroyed have been challenged, the raids are widely considered the most audacious attack behind enemy lines of the conflict.
Furious Russian leader Vladimir Putin has vowed to avenge Spiderweb and complained about Ukraine’s tactics in phone calls with Mr Trump and Pope Leo.
On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied the Kremlin claim. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: ‘We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.’ This was the fourth occasion, at least, on which Mr Kelin has attempted to warn off Britain from supporting Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.
The Kremlin has turned its sights on Britain as its ambassador warned this country risks ‘War World Three’ (pictured: Sir Keir Starmer on Monday)
Smoke billows in multiple locations across a Russian airfield following the extensive drone strikes
The footage was released as new satellite images of Belaya airbase have shown severe damage to at least three Tu-95s, according to analysts
As Russian tanks rolled over the border, Mr Kelin advised Britain to stop its threat of severe economic sanctions against Russia. Then, in May 2023, he warned the UK against increasing its provision of military aid to Kyiv. And in November 2024, he declared that this country was ‘directly involved’ in the war.
Footage of Operation Spiderweb, recorded as Ukraine’s drones flew unimpeded over the Russian bombers parked on runways, was flashed around the world leaving Putin humiliated.
In minutes, Kremlin aircraft worth tens of millions of pounds were destroyed by around 100 cheaply produced drones.
The impact will restrict Russian sorties over Ukraine and likely save civilian lives.
A jubilant Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack ‘will undoubtedly be in the history books’.
Ukraine claimed more than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed. The total is likely to be significantly lower.
The UK is a leading player in geo-spatial analysis, a field that combines data with geographic information. However, the Russian bombers would not have been difficult to locate.
Their presence at the five airbases was on the internet. The aircraft were parked on the runway, entirely exposed to any form of surveillance.
Since then a furious Vladimir Putin, pictured on Wednesday, has vowed to avenge Op Spiderweb
A jubilant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack ‘will undoubtedly be in the history books’
On Thursday night, President Trump’s pessimistic assessment of the chances of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia raised fears the US President could be poised to withdraw
Mr Kelin’s latest threat is unlikely to convince UK officials to desist from supporting Ukraine. Earlier this week Defence Secretary John Healey pledged to increase tenfold UK provision of drones to Ukraine, from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.
Britain is also to step up its leading role in the training of Ukrainian troops.
At every stage of the UK’s deepening commitment to Ukraine, one of Putin’s mouthpieces, or the dictator himself, has made threats.
On Thursday night, President Trump’s pessimistic assessment of the chances of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia raised fears he could be about to withdraw from efforts to bring Putin to the negotiating table. His remarks contrast to his boasts that he could end the conflict ‘in a day’.
