Latest news with #AndreaKelin
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Russian ambassador blames UK for Ukrainian drone attack
Russia 's ambassador to the UK has blamed Britain for Ukraine's devastating drone attacks on its airfields. As many as 40 Russian aircraft at five separate bases were destroyed by Ukraine as part of the covert Operation Spiderweb launched on Sunday. But on Thursday night, the Kremlin turned its sights on Britain as its ambassador Andrea Kelin warned this country risks 'War World Three'. Without offering any evidence Mr Kelin accused the UK military of being involved in Ukraine's attacks on targets inside Russia, highlighting its advanced geo-spacial data technology. He issued his threat as President Trump told White House reporters he did not believe Russia and Ukraine would sign a peace deal. In an interview with Sky News , Mr Kelin said Britain had played a major role in the operation through its provision of geospatial intelligence. Eighteen-months in the planning, the covert mission involved parts for drones being smuggled inside Russia before being assembled near the bases and hidden inside trucks. Once Ukrainian saboteurs had retreated to safety, the trucks opened remotely and the drones flew over the defenceless Russian aircraft parked on the runways. While Ukrainian estimates of how many Russian bombers they destroyed have been challenged, the raids were widely considered the most audacious attack behind enemy lines of the conflict. Since then a furious Vladimir Putin has vowed to avenge Op Spiderweb and complained about Ukraine's tactics in phone conversations with US President Donald Trump and His Holiness, Pope Leo. On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied the Kremlin claim. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: 'We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.' This was the fourth occasion, at least, that Mr Kelin has attempted to warn off Britain from supporting Ukraine following Russia's illegal invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. As Russian tanks rolled over the border, Mr Kelin advised Britain to stop its threat of severe economic sanctions against Russia. While in May 2023, he warned the UK against upscaling its provision of military aid to Kyiv. In November 2024, he declared that this country was 'directly involved' in the war. Footage of Operation Spiderweb, recorded as Ukraine's drones flew unimpeded over the Russian bombers parked on runways was flashed around the world leaving President Putin red-faced. In a matter of minutes, Kremlin aircraft worth tens of millions of pounds were destroyed by around 100 cheaply produced drones. The impact will restrict Russian sorties over Ukraine and likely save civilian lives. A jubilant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack 'will undoubtedly be in the history books'. Ukraine claimed more than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed. The total is likely to significantly lower than Kyiv's estimate. However, the attack was still a remarkable success and deeply embarrassing for President Putin. The UK is a leading player in geospatial analysis, a field that combines data with geographic information to generate a deeper understanding of enemy assets. However, the Russian bombers would not have been difficult to locate. Their presence at the five airbases targeted by Ukraine was on the internet. While the aircraft were parked on the runway, entirely exposed to any surveillance, sophisticated or otherwise. Mr Kalin's latest threat is unlikely to convince UK officials to desist from supporting Ukraine. Earlier this week Defence Secretary John Healey pledged to increase tenfold UK provision of drones to Ukraine, from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025. Britain is also to step up its already leading role in the training of Ukrainian troops. At every stage of the UK's deepening commitment to Ukraine, one of Putin's mouthpieces, or the President himself, has issued a thinly veiled threat. As this week's UK Strategic Defence Review made clear, Russia is also engaged in consistent cyber-warfare and Electromagnetic attacks on British assets.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Russia's ambassador to the UK blames BRITAIN for Ukraine's attack on its airfields that saw 40 planes destroyed - saying WE risk WWIII
Russia 's ambassador to the UK has blamed Britain for Ukraine's devastating drone attacks on its airfields. As many as 40 Russian aircraft at five separate bases were destroyed by Ukraine as part of the covert Operation Spiderweb launched on Sunday. But on Thursday night, the Kremlin turned its sights on Britain as its ambassador Andrea Kelin warned this country risks 'War World Three'. Without offering any evidence Mr Kelin accused the UK military of being involved in Ukraine's attacks on targets inside Russia, highlighting its advanced geo-spacial data technology. He issued his threat as President Trump told White House reporters he did not believe Russia and Ukraine would sign a peace deal. In an interview with Sky News, Mr Kelin said Britain had played a major role in the operation through its provision of geospatial intelligence. Mr Kelin, who has made similar threats to the UK over its support for Ukraine, said: 'This kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geo-spaced data, which can only be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington. 'I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, but it has not been denied by Britain. 'We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together in Ukraine.' Eighteen-months in the planning, the covert mission involved parts for drones being smuggled inside Russia before being assembled near the bases and hidden inside trucks. Once Ukrainian saboteurs had retreated to safety, the trucks opened remotely and the drones flew over the defenceless Russian aircraft parked on the runways. While Ukrainian estimates of how many Russian bombers they destroyed have been challenged, the raids were widely considered the most audacious attack behind enemy lines of the conflict. Since then a furious Vladimir Putin has vowed to avenge Op Spiderweb and complained about Ukraine's tactics in phone conversations with US President Donald Trump and His Holiness, Pope Leo. On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied the Kremlin claim. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: 'We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.' This was the fourth occasion, at least, that Mr Kelin has attempted to warn off Britain from supporting Ukraine following Russia's illegal invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. As Russian tanks rolled over the border, Mr Kelin advised Britain to stop its threat of severe economic sanctions against Russia. While in May 2023, he warned the UK against upscaling its provision of military aid to Kyiv. In November 2024, he declared that this country was 'directly involved' in the war. Footage of Operation Spiderweb, recorded as Ukraine's drones flew unimpeded over the Russian bombers parked on runways was flashed around the world leaving President Putin red-faced. In a matter of minutes, Kremlin aircraft worth tens of millions of pounds were destroyed by around 100 cheaply produced drones. The impact will restrict Russian sorties over Ukraine and likely save civilian lives. A jubilant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack 'will undoubtedly be in the history books'. Ukraine claimed more than 40 Russian warplanes were destroyed. The total is likely to significantly lower than Kyiv's estimate. However, the attack was still a remarkable success and deeply embarrassing for President Putin. The UK is a leading player in geospatial analysis, a field that combines data with geographic information to generate a deeper understanding of enemy assets. However, the Russian bombers would not have been difficult to locate. Their presence at the five airbases targeted by Ukraine was on the internet. While the aircraft were parked on the runway, entirely exposed to any surveillance, sophisticated or otherwise. Mr Kalin's latest threat is unlikely to convince UK officials to desist from supporting Ukraine. Earlier this week Defence Secretary John Healey pledged to increase tenfold UK provision of drones to Ukraine, from 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025. Britain is also to step up its already leading role in the training of Ukrainian troops. At every stage of the UK's deepening commitment to Ukraine, one of Putin's mouthpieces, or the President himself, has issued a thinly veiled threat. As this week's UK Strategic Defence Review made clear, Russia is also engaged in consistent cyber-warfare and Electromagnetic attacks on British assets. On Wednesday, Mr Healey confirmed for the first time that a cyberattack could trigger an Article Five response by NATO. Previously, the UK's position had been that it would take a conventional military attack on a member state for Britain to call for a collective response by the alliance. On Thursday night, President Trump's pessimistic assessment of the chances of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia raised fears the US President could be poised to withdraw from efforts to bring President Putin to the negotiating table. His latest remarks were in stark contrast to his previous boasts that he could end the conflict 'in a day'.
