Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova on Britain's participation in the Ukraine conflict

The Storm Shadow case is a textbook example of London’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict

The decision to supply these missiles to the Kiev regime was made by the British in 2023. At the time, they were euphoric about preparations for the “counteroffensive” that would later fail, and the decision was considered extraordinary even by many British politicians.

The UK Government was aware of the risks and illegitimacy of this decision and sought to convince its MPs, the public and even us that it was acting “responsibly”. It was officially stated that the system would be used only on Ukraine’s “internationally recognised territory”. This position was also set out at the time in a note from the British Embassy in Moscow. Clearly, the British were then trying to demonstrate that London still retained at least a degree of common sense and did not want to unleash a third world war.

Later, the British side repeatedly avoided answering questions about the actual use of Storm Shadow missiles. But at some point, their use became obvious. Then such strikes went beyond the area of use declared by London, however fictitious that area may have been. This is impossible without the direct involvement of foreign specialists providing operational support and targeting for this weapons system, as well as without individual NATO countries providing the Ukrainian armed forces with the necessary intelligence.

In May 2024, then Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in an interview with Reuters that “Ukraine has that right” to strike targets on Russian territory using British weapons, “just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine”.

This hostile statement directly contradicted the British side’s previous official assurances that under no circumstances would Storm Shadow missiles be used against Russian territory. In doing so, the British Foreign Secretary knowingly disavowed this principle, effectively acknowledging that his country was a party to the conflict.

And now we hear that London is ready to provide Kiev with the information needed for the independent production of Storm Shadow missiles. I assume that the Andy Burnham government understands where this could lead. They understand how Ukrainian militants would use Storm Shadow missiles if they were able to replenish their stockpiles on a large scale – something our military will, naturally, not allow. But London will not be able to shift responsibility onto its Kiev puppets.

The attempts by British politicians to downplay public concern over these escalatory actions are also revealing. The local press has even started referring to the missile as SCALP rather than Storm Shadow, seemingly in an attempt to muddy the waters and shift the blame onto the French, while praise for this provocative step is accompanied by claims that it supposedly does nothing to further escalate the situation.

The latest developments leave no doubt that all steps taken by the British government are geared towards achieving a single long-term objective – inflicting what they themselves call a “strategic defeat” on our country.

It is all doomed to fail, but London is fully implicated in this.

We have repeatedly warned that Ukrainian strikes against Russian territory using British weapons may be met with attacks on any British military facilities and equipment in Ukraine and beyond its borders. Those responsible for war crimes, including crimes against the civilian population of our country, will be punished in accordance with their deeds. Inevitable retribution will also reach their accomplices and instigators.

We call on all residents of the United Kingdom to consider the inevitable catastrophic consequences of the hostile actions of their own authorities. As for the British leadership, we urge it once again to carefully assess the situation and immediately, decisively and unambiguously abandon its hostile and aggressive policy, which can only prolong the agony of the Kiev neo-Nazi regime and create the risk of the conflict being taken to an entirely new level.