Kremlin Threatens to Target Ukraine Missile Plants Amid UK Military Support

The Kremlin has accused Britain of undermining efforts to end the war in Ukraine by helping Kyiv obtain technical information needed to manufacture SCALP long-range cruise missiles domestically, warning that Russian forces could target facilities involved in their production.

The warning came as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv for Ukraine’s Independence Day commemorations and reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine militarily.

The British government has said it would authorise defence company MBDA to share technical information on UK-made components used in the Franco-British SCALP missile, potentially allowing Ukraine to produce the weapon domestically.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian forces were monitoring the development and gathering intelligence on potential production sites for long-range missiles and other military equipment.

The SCALP, known as Storm Shadow in Britain, is an air-launched cruise missile with a range of about 250 kilometres (155 miles). Britain and France have supplied the weapons to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, giving Kyiv the ability to strike high-value targets deep behind Russian lines.

Ukraine has received SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles from its European allies but has not previously produced them domestically.

Burnham’s visit to Kyiv comes as Western allies continue efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain uncertain.

The Kremlin’s warning adds to tensions between Moscow and its Western opponents, particularly as European governments move towards strengthening Ukraine’s domestic defence industry.

If Britain proceeds with the transfer of technical expertise, the move could mark a further shift in Western support for Ukraine—from supplying finished weapons to helping Kyiv develop the capacity to manufacture advanced long-range systems domestically.