Latest news with #AndreiKelin
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Minister 'not going to speculate' on alleged UK involvement in Ukrainian drone attack
A government minister has declined to say if the UK was involved in a Ukrainian drone strike after the Russian ambassador partially blamed Britain for the attack. More than a hundred drones were used to attack sites inside Russia over the weekend, leading to more than 40 warplanes being destroyed. Speaking to The World With Yalda Hakim on Sky News following the attack, Russia's UK ambassador warned it could risk escalating the conflict to "World War III". 5:58 Andrei Kelin pointed the finger at the UK because of the nature of the strike. "[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession. And this is London and Washington," he told Hakim. "I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London. "We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine." Asked if the UK had provided Ukraine with this technology, Steve Reed, the environment secretary, told Sky News: "I'm not going to speculate on something when I don't know what the facts were." He said that "we as a government, cross-party actually, are standing foursquare alongside Ukraine as they fight - try to defend themselves - against a brutal, unprovoked and illegal attack and invasion". Mr Reed added: "We want there to be peace talks. We want this conflict to end. But it's quite right that we should support Ukraine." Challenged if this escalation could risk Britain getting sucked into the conflict with Russia more directly, the cabinet minister responded: "I do know that the people of this country and the government of this country, want to stand alongside Ukraine. "We need peace to happen in that region, we can't allow Russia to get away with invading any more countries." It comes at a time of escalating tensions in the region, with both Russia and Ukraine upping their attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country's drone strikes at the weekend "will undoubtedly be in history books". 3:55 The blow is seen as one of the most daring of the war so far, though the US estimated only around 10 Russian bombers were blown up - and Russia said none were. Overnight, Russia claimed it downed 174 Ukrainian drones and three cruise missiles across the country. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities said Russia attacked towns and cities across Ukraine overnight. Mr Zelenskyy said the assault was formed of more than 400 drones and 40 missiles. 2:37 US President Donald Trump had urged Mr Putin not to retaliate on Thursday. He told reporters: "I don't like it, I said don't do it, you shouldn't do it, you should stop it." In response to the allegations of British involvement, a Downing Street spokesperson said: "We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad."
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Russian envoy points finger at Britain over Ukraine's covert drone strikes
Russian Ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has partly blamed Britain for Ukraine 's recent drone attacks, accusing Kyiv of escalating the conflict and risking World War III, in an interview with Sky News. Kelin suggested the drone attacks, including Operation Spider's Web, involved high technology and geospaced data provided by London and Washington. Kelin urged Ukraine to 'not try to engulf World War III'. The British Council has been barred from re-entering Russia, with Moscow claiming its employees could be spies, according to Russian news agency Tass. The British Council ceased operations in Russia in 2018, and Moscow now asserts that interacting with the organisation entails administrative and criminal liability.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Four dead in Kyiv after Russia hits Ukraine with missile and drone attacks in 'revenge' strike
Four people have been killed after Russia launched a barrage of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine last night. Explosions were heard throughout the city as 20 people were also injured, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack followed a warning from Vladimir Putin that the Kremlin would seek revenge after Ukrainian drones destroyed several strategic bomber aircraft in attacks deep inside Russia. Russia's ambassador to the UK partly blamed Britain for the drone attacks, which Ukraine said destroyed dozens of aircraft. Andrei Kelin claimed Kyiv was escalating the conflict with its recent attacks in an interview with Sky News. He pointed to Operation Spider's Web, the codename for the mass covert drone attack. Mr Kelin urged Ukraine to "not try to engulf World War III", according to Sky News. In a signal that he believed the attack was supported by Kyiv's Western allies, he added it involved "provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession". "And this is London and Washington," he said. Kyiv's metro transport system was disrupted by a Russian strike that hit and damaged a train between stations, Kyiv's military administration said. In the Solomenskiy district, a Russian drone slammed into the side of an apartment building, leaving a gaping hole and burn marks, a Reuters photographer at the scene said. Falling concrete blocks from the building crushed cars parked below. Two police investigators were examining what appeared to be the drone's engine. Earlier in the night, Reuters reporters heard the sound of Russian kamikaze drones buzzing in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of outgoing fire from Ukrainian anti-aircraft. Reuters witnesses reported a series of explosions powerful enough to rattle windows far from the impact sites. Some Kyiv residents sought shelter in metro stations, or in underground car parks. Russian air defences also shot down 174 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Defence Ministry said.
Metro
4 days ago
- Politics
- Metro
Russia blames Britain for Ukraine's attack on airfields destroying 40 war planes
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Russian ambassador to the UK has blamed Britain for Ukraine's strikes on its airfields – and warned the action could lead to World War III. Andrei Kelin claimed it was thanks to Britain's advanced technology that Ukraine was able to hit targets deep inside Russian territory. Up to 40 Russian bombers and other large planes were destroyed at five bases on Sunday. Kelin claimed in an interview with Sky News, without providing evidence, that British intelligence played a major role in the covert operation, named Operation Spiderweb. The plan, 18 months in the making, was orchestrated by a former clothes merchant who worked as a DJ on the side. He said: 'This kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geo-spatial 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.' Kelin said Ukraine's actions were 'bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation' and said Kyiv should not 'try to engulf World War III'. On Thursday night, Downing Street neither confirmed nor denied Britain's involvement in the operation. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: 'We never comment on operational matters at home or abroad.' Britain is a leader in the geo-spatial data field – but the technique wasn't necessarily needed to find and target the Russian bombers, which were parked out in the open on the runways of five air bases. An expert has warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use 'game-changing' nuclear weapons in a show of strength in response to the operation. According to Russia's new nuclear doctrine, published in 2024, any attacks on military infrastructure which 'disrupt response actions by nuclear forces' could lead to nuke strikes in return. The drones used in Operation Spiderweb were smuggled into Russia and launched remotely off the back of trucks. Destroying the bombers, well out of reach of air defences, means months of repair, weakened deterrence, and morale collapse for the Kremlin. Ukraine says nearly 120 kamikaze drones simultaneously launched from the trailers, striking the airbases and crippling the Russian air force. More Trending In total, they inflicted in the region of $7billion worth of damage. Putin has vowed revenge for the audacious attacks, and has launched several strikes on Ukraine since then. Last night, four people died and 20 more injured after a Russian strike on the capital of Kyiv, its mayor said. Search and rescue operations are underway after multiple explosions were heard and falling debris set fires across several districts of the city. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Russia 'combat ready' while top general warns UK must prepare for attack MORE: New footage gives kamikaze drone pilot's view of attack on Russian airbases MORE: Gang 'live-streamed arson attacks in London' for Wagner Group
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Russian ambassador blames UK in part for Ukraine's drone attacks
Russia's ambassador to the UK has partly blamed Britain for Ukraine's recent drone attacks. The British Council has meanwhile been barred from returning to Russia, as tensions between Moscow and the West continue to deepen. Andrei Kelin, Russian President Vladimir Putin's man in London, warned that Kyiv was escalating the conflict with its recent attacks in an interview with Sky News. He pointed to Operation Spider's Web, the mass covert drone attack which struck long-range bomber planes at four airbases deep within Russian territory. Mr Kelin urged Ukraine to 'not try to engulf World War III', according to Sky News. In a signal that he believed the attack was supported by Kyiv's Western allies, he added it involved 'provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession'. 'And this is London and Washington,' he said. Elsewhere, Russian news agency Tass reported that the British Council, an educational organisation, has been barred from re-entering Russia by the security services. The council ceased its operations in Russia in 2018, but Moscow claims those who work for it could be spies. Interacting with the British Council 'entails administrative and criminal liability', Tass reported.
