Former Russian deputy foreign minister Andrei Fedorov has warned of potential hybrid attacks against the United Kingdom, including arson or sabotage. These threats specifically name a drone facility near RAF Mildenhall and the missile manufacturer MBDA as targets for Russian retaliation .
Ukrspecsystems and MBDA identified as potential targets
Andrei Fedorov, a former deputy foreign minister of Russia, has named specific British entities that could face Russian retaliation. According to The Mail on Sunday, Fedorov identified the drone factory Ukrspecsystems, located near RAF Mildenhall in West Suffolk, and the missile manufacturer MBDA in Stevenage as "legal targets."
The drone factory Ukrspecsystems, which operates as a British-Ukrainian firm, was previously identifed alongside other European weapons manufacturers. MBDA, which employs approximately 4,000 people, is also a primary focus due to its production of Storm Shadow missiles. The Kremlin's interest in these facilities stems from the use of UK-made technology in strikes against Russian oil refineries and the provision of missile blueprints to Ukraine.
Sabotage and arson as tools of Russian hybrid warfare
Russia is increasingly utilizing hybrid tactics, such as sabotage and arson, to avoid triggering a full-scale NATO military response. As The Mail on Sunday reported, Fedorov suggested that the highest levels of the Russian government are considering these methods because an outright military strike against a NATO member could lead to a collective military response from the Western alliance.
Elisabeth Braw, an expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, described this strategy as a "defender's dilemma." This term refers to the difficulty a nation like the UK faces when deciding how to respond to non-military aggression without escalating the conflict into a global war. This shift toward hybrid warfare follows a period where Russia is reportedly losing its narrative regarding the conflict in Ukraine, according to an official memo from Britain's ambassador to Moscow, Nigel Casey.
Wes Streeting rejects Kremlin intimidation tactics
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has dismissed the recent threats from Moscow as "reckless rhetoric" intended to intimidate the British government.. Speaking on the threats, Streeting argued that the aggressive stance reflects the weakness of Vladimir Putin's current position on the front lines, where Russian casualties continue to mount.
The British government is currently working to increase supporrt for Ukraine ahead of the winter months, despite warnings from Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Zakharova claimed that the UK government is "playing with fire" by supporting long-range missile capabilities, specifically the Storm Shadow missiles which have a range of 350 miles.
Who is driving the calls for strikes in Moscow?
Several critical details regarding these threats remain unverified by independent sources. It is unclear whether the "experts in Moscow" mentioned by Fedorov represent a formal government directive or are merely part of a broader, uncoordinated public sentiment within Russia . Additionally,the source does not clarify if the threats against Ukrspecsystems and MBDA have moved beyond rhetorical posturing into active operational planning by Russian intelligence services.
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