Andrei Kelin claimed British forces are “deeply” involved in assisting Ukraine.(Image: PA)Russia’s ambassador to the UK has claimed Ukraine’s recent drone attacks targeting nuclear bomber airbases risks escalating the ongoing conflict to “World War III”, who also implied that Britain was involved.
Andrei Kelin warned that the strikes “are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation“, adding that Kyiv should “not try to engulf World War III”.
The surprise attack on Sunday, June 1, was a heavy blow to the Russian military. It targeted bases holding nuclear-capable bombers, and reached as far away as Siberia.
Satellite images show seven ruined bombers at a base in eastern Siberia, a target Ukraine later admitted to striking, the Mirror reports.
Mr Kelin accused the UK of being involved when he said Ukraine must have been assisted. He told Sky News: “[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.
“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.”
A post-strike aerial image of Ivanovo Airbase, near Moscow, which was targeted in the attack.(Image: AFP PHOTO / 2025 PLANET LABS PBC)Ukraine said over 40 bombers, around a third of Russia’s fleet, sustained damage or were destroyed. The aircraft affected were Tu-95s, Tu-22Ms and A-50s, targeted by drones that were deployed from containers carried on trucks parked near four bases.
The operation is said to have been in the planning for 18 months, and demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to strike high-value targets anywhere in Russia, resulting in humiliation and significant losses.
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Although some Russian military bloggers compared it to the 1941 Pearl Harbour bombing by Japan, due to it being a surprise attack on a Sunday, others argued the extent of the damage was much less than claimed.
Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin told him “very strongly” in a call on Wednesday that he will respond to the incident as the deadlock over the conflict continues.
Writing on social media, Trump said the phone call “was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace.”