Everywhere on Putin’s new chilling UK ‘target list’
Two UK companies have allegedly been placed on the Russian President’s so-called ‘hit list’ after being accused of handing weapons to Ukraine in the ongoing war.
Despite Donald Trump’s best efforts to broker a peace deal, war continues to rage between Ukraine and Russia, with Vladimir Putin reportedly under ‘serious’ pressure to ‘undertake certain action against the UK’ as the country continues to side with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A Putin advisor has previously warned that due to Britain’s loyalty, some of the ‘highest levels of the Russian government' are currently considering lodging a 'hybrid attack’ on the nation.
Andrei Fedorov, a former deputy foreign minister of Russia, has confirmed the threat, telling The Mail on Sunday that the UK is often referred to in government as the number one ‘evil’.
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He alleged that this is because Russian society is ‘angry’ after apparently learning that UK-made drones were ‘used against Russian oil refineries’.
An official memo by Nigel Casey, Britain's ambassador to Moscow, has said that officials should continue to neither confirm nor deny whether UK-supplied weapons are currently being used by Kyiv inside Russia.
“Any comments which appear to confirm Russian accusations risk unnecessarily elevating already substantial risks to UK national security,” he continued.
Russian experts believe a drone factory, owned by a British-Ukrainian firm, Ukrspecsystems, situated in West Suffolk, supplied the Ukrainian weapons used inside the country.
The company is reportedly high on the state’s target list as a result.
“Various experts are calling to punish by strike [sic] the UK, and it will be supported by the majority of Russian citizens,” the 71-year-old informed the publication.
Fedorova also claimed that Prime Minister Andy Burnham had angered the state after allegedly handing Ukraine blueprints for 350-mile-ranged Storm Shadow missiles.
These weapons were reportedly manufactured by the British arms company MBDA in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
When asked if they believed reports that they could be a target of Russian ire, a spokesperson for MBDA said: “Many experts in Moscow are saying yes, it's a legal target. Absolutely.”
Regarding both MBDA and Ukrspecsystems being reported targets of Russia, Secretary of State for Defence, Wes Streeting, said on Saturday (29 August): “The reckless rhetoric and attempts at intimidation we have seen from the Kremlin in recent weeks reflect the weakness of Putin's position and we will not be intimidated.
“This has been a bad year for Putin. The front line has barely moved. Russian casualties continue to mount. The Russian people are paying a heavy price for Putin's war.”
He continued, explaining that it is in Britain’s ‘national interest’ for Putin’s aggression and aim to target hybrid operations ‘not to be rewarded’.
“The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I are working together to mobilise support for Ukraine ahead of winter,” Streeting added.
The reported threats against MBDA and Ukrspecsystems come after Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Putin's Foreign Ministry, issued a chilling warning.
The diplomat said: "Any British military installations and equipment in Ukraine and beyond could be the response to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons on Russian territory.
“Those guilty of war crimes, including against the civilian population of our country, will be punished according to their actions.
"Inevitable punishment awaits their accomplices and instigators, and we call on all residents of the United Kingdom to consider the inevitable catastrophic consequences of their own government's hostile actions,” continued the 50-year-old.
"We urge the British leadership to once again thoroughly analyse the situation and immediately, decisively and unequivocally, abandon their hostile and aggressive stance."
Her alarming report came at the same time that former deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin allegedly leaked a 23-strong list of potential UK target locations.
This included areas such as Glasgow and Barrow-in-Furness, where prominent BAE Systems factories are located.
The full, alleged list leaked by Rogozin can be seen below. MBDA sites are included.
- Glasgow – BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Thales
- Belfast – Harland & Wolff, Spirit Aerosystems, Thales
- Fivemiletown – Cooneen Defence
- Barrow-in-Furness – BAE Systems
- Bolton – MBDA
- Telford – RBSL
- Aberporth – QinetiQ, Tekever
- Merthyr Tydfil – General Dynamics
- Glascoed – BAE Systems
- Bristol – Airbus, BAE Systems, GKN Aerospace, Leonardo, MBDA, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce
- HMNB Devonport – Babcock
- Yeovil – Leonardo
- Aldermaston – AWE
- London – Helsing, Palantir
- Stevenage – Airbus, MBDA
- Ampthill – Lockheed Martin
- Derby – Rolls-Royce
- Sheffield – Sheffield Forgemasters
- Warton & Samlesbury – BAE Systems
- Newton Aycliffe – Octric Semiconductors
- Tyne & Wear – BAE Systems, Leonardo
- Edinburgh – Leonardo
- Rosyth – Babcock, QinetiQ
Topics: Russia, UK News, Vladimir Putin
Ella Scott