Britain is preparing to hand Ukraine classified technical information that could help Kyiv assemble long-range cruise missiles on its own territory, further deepening London’s military involvement in the conflict with Russia.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to announce the decision during a visit to Kyiv on Monday, his first overseas trip since taking office last month.
Downing Street said the British government has authorised European missile manufacturer MBDA to disclose sensitive information relating to UK-made components used in the SCALP cruise missile, France’s version of the British Storm Shadow. The two weapons share British and French technology and have a range of more than 250 kilometres.
France and Ukraine are working towards establishing missile assembly facilities inside Ukraine. London says releasing the classified material will enable Paris and Kyiv to advance plans for Ukrainian production.
“The Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: The UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes,” Burnham said, maintaining the position adopted by previous British governments.
Burnham is also expected to meet Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and chair his first gathering of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” the British-French initiative established under former prime minister Keir Starmer.
The decision comes amid increasingly severe warnings from Moscow over Britain’s role in Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russian territory. Russia maintains that countries supplying weapons, intelligence and other assistance for such operations bear responsibility for the resulting strikes.
The Sunday Times has reported that drones produced by BAE Systems and another British company have been used against targets inside Russia during the past six months, including oil refineries. Among the aircraft reportedly deployed was the Nyan, a jet-powered unmanned aircraft manufactured by a BAE Systems subsidiary.
Russia’s embassy in London last week accused Britain of becoming an “accomplice and co-perpetrator” in Ukrainian attacks and warned that the greater Britain’s involvement becomes, “the higher the price it will pay.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has similarly argued that direct British involvement in long-range strikes could amount to participation in the war.
“We have every right to regard the proudly proclaimed direct involvement of British missile forces in strikes against Russia as participation in the war, with all the consequences that entails,” Lavrov said.
