BURNHAM SAYS UK WILL BACK UKRAINE AFTER RUSSIA DRONE WARNING

Developing story: British confirmation, Russian responses and battlefield reports about drone use may change as governments release further statements.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Tuesday that the United Kingdom would support Ukraine “100%” despite a Russian warning that London would face consequences for supplying drones to Kyiv. His remarks came after Moscow accused Britain of deepening its involvement in the war following reports that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia.

The Russian embassy in London said Britain’s actions would inevitably carry consequences and that the deeper its involvement in the conflict, the higher the price it would pay, Reuters reported. The statement followed a Times report that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence did not confirm whether British drones had been used in such strikes. That distinction matters because the Russian warning rests partly on a media report and Moscow’s interpretation of British military support. What is confirmed is that Russia issued a warning and Burnham publicly reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine.

Burnham said Britain was doing what it had long said it would do: support Ukraine against what he called Russia’s illegal war. He said the U.K. would not be a “fair-weather friend” and would be there in Ukraine’s hour of need. The language was direct and intended to show that Russian warnings would not deter London.

The dispute fits a wider shift in the Ukraine war. Kyiv has increased deep-strike drone attacks against oil refineries, logistics sites and infrastructure inside Russia. Those attacks are intended to raise the cost of Moscow’s invasion and reduce Russia’s capacity to conduct strikes on Ukrainian cities.

Britain has already committed major drone support. Reuters reported that in June, the U.K. said it would provide 150,000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2026 as part of a £752 million funding package. That commitment makes drone supply a central part of British military aid, even if officials do not confirm the use of specific systems in specific attacks.

Russia has repeatedly warned Western governments that weapons supplies to Ukraine could provoke retaliatory measures or widen the confrontation. Those warnings have not stopped arms deliveries, but they do raise the stakes when Western-supplied systems are reported near Russian territory or involved in deep strikes.

What is confirmed is that Moscow warned Britain over drone support and Burnham said Britain would continue backing Ukraine fully. What remains unresolved is whether British-made drones were used in the reported long-range strikes and whether Russia will respond beyond diplomatic warnings.

Fact-check date: August 18, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Developing note: British confirmation, Russian responses and battlefield reports about drone use may change as governments release further statements.