UK-made drones strike targets inside Russia for first time
British-manufactured drones have been deployed to strike military and industrial targets inside Russia, causing over £35bn in economic damage.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- British-made drones are deployed to strike targets inside mainland Russia for the first time.
- The strikes have resulted in over £35bn in economic damage across Russian regions.
- The UK Ministry of Defence previously pledged over 150,000 drones in a massive supply package.
- Moscow faced an overnight assault involving approximately 600 Ukrainian-launched drones.
British-manufactured drones are being deployed to strike targets deep inside Russia for the very first time. These unmanned aerial vehicles, built by two separate British companies, have been utilised in widespread and successful operations targeting military and industrial sites across mainland Russia, including oil refineries and warehouses belonging to the online retail giant Wildberries.
First brought to light by the Sunday Times, the strikes are estimated to have inflicted more than £35bn in economic damage. A well-placed military source verified to the BBC that UK-built drones were indeed active in these operations. Although British-made Storm Shadow missiles had previously seen service in the ongoing conflict, this new operational phase is yielding a substantially more decisive impact on the ground.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously noted that drones utilizing UK components and configurations had targeted Russian territory, including a fuel depot situated in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region. Back in April, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced its largest assistance package to date, promising tens of thousands of drones to Ukraine, alongside long-range strike capabilities.
"We are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin's illegal invasion."
UK Ministry of Defence Spokesperson
A ministry spokesperson emphasized the ongoing commitment to supplying necessary equipment for Ukraine's defense, noting that this year's package includes upwards of 150,000 drones, cutting-edge Stone Cloak devices designed to disrupt Russian air defenses, and innovative low-cost cruise missiles. Over the weekend, the mayor of Moscow reported that approximately 600 Ukrainian drones were launched toward the capital overnight, with roughly one-third intercepted and destroyed, leaving three individuals injured and hitting a storage facility operated by Wildberries, often dubbed Russia's equivalent to Amazon, which has faced repeated strikes since July to disrupt military logistics.
The transition toward utilizing Western-manufactured drones for deep-strike capabilities inside Russian territory marks a tactical evolution from conventional defense to systemic economic disruption. By targeting vital logistics hubs like Wildberries, the strategy aims to severely choke military supply chains while applying macroeconomic pressure that traditional missile strikes alone might not achieve, highlighting a deepened reliance on allied military technology integration.
Source: BBC Politics
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