(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Ukraine has for the first time used British made drones to strike military and industrial targets deep inside Russian territory. The strikes, confirmed by a well placed military source to the BBC, have targeted oil refineries and warehouses, including those belonging to the online retailer Wildberries.
The drones, built by two British companies, have been used in a widespread campaign against logistical and industrial infrastructure in mainland Russia. The aim is to disrupt supply lines for the Russian military and make Russian citizens feel the direct impact of the war launched by the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The attacks have struck a range of targets. These include a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region, a fact previously noted by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Zakharova has claimed that drones using UK components have been used to attack Russian territory.
In the latest wave of Ukrainian attacks, Moscow’s mayor said that hundreds of drones had been launched towards the Russian capital overnight.
A warehouse belonging to Wildberries, a Russian mass retailer of goods online, has been hit repeatedly since July. Kyiv has stated it is targeting logistics hubs used by Russians to procure military equipment, thereby disrupting supplies to the Russian army.
The use of British drones marks a significant development. In April, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its largest ever drone package for Ukraine, pledging to supply tens of thousands of drones, including long range strike devices. A spokesperson for the MoD said the UK’s support for Ukraine is “unwavering” and that it would stand by its ally “until it wins”.
The spokesperson added: “We are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin’s illegal invasion.”
This escalation in Ukraine’s long range strike capability comes as Russia continues its own attacks on Ukrainian cities. At least eight people have been killed and 39 injured in the latest wave of Russian missile strikes, which targeted a civilian market in Kyiv and a residential home in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The footage and information regarding the use of British drones were reported by the BBC, citing a well placed military source.
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