According to Reuters report on August 18th, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Tuesday that the UK will '100%' support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and will always stand by Ukraine during times of crisis.
Previously, Russia warned London about the UK providing drones to Kiev.
The Times reported on the 15th that drones manufactured in the UK were used for the first time to carry out long-range attacks in Russia. Previously, Ukraine had frequently used drones for long-range attacks against Russian oil refining plants and logistics facilities.
In June this year, the UK announced that it would provide Ukraine with 150,000 drones by the end of 2026 as part of a funding plan worth £752 million (approximately 6.86 billion yuan).
On the 18th of this month, the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom released a statement on its Telegram channel stating: “London’s actions will inevitably bring consequences and it must bear responsibility. The deeper it gets involved in the conflict, the greater its support for the Kyiv terror machine will be, the higher the price it pays.”
Since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly warned Britain and other Western countries that their support for Kiev, including the provision of equipment, could lead to retaliatory measures and increase the risk of broader confrontation.
Bernam responded that this is ‘what the UK has always wanted to do, which is to fully support Ukraine in this war.’
He added, “We are not friends who only seek short-term benefits. We will step forward when Ukraine needs help, and that will not change.”
The UK Ministry of Defence has not confirmed whether drones manufactured in the UK have been used. However, when asked about the comments made by the Russian embassy, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated before Bernam's statement: “The UK stands alongside Ukraine, and we are committed to providing the equipment that Ukraine needs.”
