Russia warns Britain and France over missile technology transfers to Ukraine

On August 27, 2026, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that France and Britain are "playing with fire" by providing sensitive missile technology to Ukraine. This statement followed commitments made by British and French leaders on Monday, during Ukraine's independence anniversary commemorations, to increase military support, including accelerated delivery of anti-aircraft missiles and access to classified data.

Notably, the United Kingdom announced it would grant Kyiv access to technology required to produce long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles domestically. These missiles are capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory. In response to these developments, Zakharova stated that Russia may target British military facilities located both inside and outside of Ukraine if such weapons are used to attack Russian territory. She characterized the British government's actions as a hostile stance and urged a cessation of these policies, warning of unpredictable consequences for both London and Paris.