British defense firms that are actively supporting Ukraine have been alerted to heightened risks posed by Russia. This warning was communicated to executives during a roundtable with high-ranking officials earlier this summer, according to recent reports.
While the identities of the participants in the meeting remain undisclosed, it was made clear that attendees were cautioned about potential surveillance of employees, attempts to access sensitive information, cyberattacks, and acts of sabotage at their facilities. Additionally, there are concerns regarding assassination attempts targeting company leadership.
The publication highlighted a prior incident in 2024 when U.S. intelligence uncovered a Russian plan to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of the German defense company Rheinmetall. NATO confirmed that this plan was part of a broader campaign of sabotage, arson, and attacks against representatives of the defense industry in Europe.
Currently, manufacturers have been specifically warned that the Russian side may focus particularly on drone manufacturers and creators of long-range weaponry. Notable companies include the Ukrainian firm Ukrspecsystems, which established production facilities in Suffolk, UK, and Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems working on drone platforms. MBDA, known for producing Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles, was also mentioned. The UK government recently approved the transfer of classified information regarding these missiles to Ukraine to enhance collaboration with Kyiv and Paris.
This warning comes amid escalating rhetoric from Moscow towards London. Recently, Russia has repeatedly threatened the UK with consequences for its military support of Ukraine and has stated the possibility of attacks on British military targets.
Context
- Since the onset of the war, the UK has been a supporter of Ukraine, particularly in terms of providing arms. The UK government has not disclosed how many Storm Shadow missiles it has supplied to Kyiv and rarely makes statements about such shipments. Ukrainian forces first used British missiles to strike military targets in Russia in November 2024.
- On August 16, British outlet LBC reported, citing several sources within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, that Ukrainian defense forces had been using British drones for long-range strikes against Russia over the past six months, which had not been done previously. The report indicated that these drones have proven to be more effective for strikes than British Storm Shadow missiles.
- In response, Russia has indicated that the UK will “pay” for supplying drones to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia reserves the right to consider the UK’s involvement in the war with all possible repercussions.
