The Kremlin accused British experts of participating in a fatal Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Bryansk using British Storm Shadow missiles. The attack, which the Bryansk regional governor described as a “terrorist missile strike,” resulted in the deaths of at least six civilians and left 37 others injured. When asked about a potential military response to the use of British missiles on Russian territory, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would consider Britain’s involvement.
Peskov emphasized that the missile launch could not have occurred without the assistance of British specialists. Despite Russia’s assertions that Ukraine requires Western support for advanced missile strikes into Russia, there was no immediate response from London. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians and called on the United Nations to investigate the incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted in a video address that the strikes targeted a Russian facility producing critical missile components. He referenced a report from Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, stating that the plant manufactured electronics and components for Russian missiles used against Ukrainian cities and civilians.
In a separate incident within Ukraine, officials in Kharkiv reported that a Russian drone struck a civilian business, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries. The attack, causing a fire at the business, left all wounded individuals in serious condition. Kharkiv, situated near the Russian border, has faced repeated air attacks following the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Efforts to mediate between Ukraine and Russia have involved talks facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys before the outbreak of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran. The possibility of further trilateral discussions in Istanbul was mentioned by Peskov, who noted previous negotiations in the Turkish city and in Abu Dhabi and Geneva this year.