Putin Is Setting A Trap For Himself With His Threats Against Britain
2- 30.08.2026, 21:10
- 1,676
It is becoming increasingly risky for the Kremlin to raise the stakes.
Russia is stepping up its threats against the United Kingdom in an attempt to undermine London’s support for Ukraine. Vladimir Putin’s regime has already launched a propaganda campaign, warning of a possible “response” against British factories producing drones that Ukraine uses to strike Russian targets.
However, as The i Paper, with such threats, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin risks backing himself into a corner and provoking a dangerous escalation of the conflict with yet another country. Many British officials are convinced that Putin fears a direct confrontation with NATO.
Former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov stated in an interview with British media that London is “enemy number one” for Moscow. He said that Russia’s response to Britain’s support for Ukraine could target factories producing drones for Ukraine.
The publication noted that threats from the Kremlin began to intensify after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised to step up support for Ukraine and provide the country with blueprints for British Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, which could be used to strike deep into Russian territory.
According to analysts, the UK’s resolute political and military support for Ukraine is increasingly irritating the Putin regime. Russia is now looking for a way to strike back.
“For Russia, Andy Burnham’s speech in Kyiv really sounded like a battle cry,” Anna Matveeva, a senior visiting research fellow at the Institute of Russia at King’s College London, told reporters.
She noted that Bernam’s remarks are fueling fears in the Kremlin that the UK intends to harm Russia by supporting Ukraine. According to her, the Kremlin has come to believe that London is not only determined to continue its previous support for Ukraine but is also prepared for an escalation.
British security and defense officials have long warned of the threat posed by Russia and other rogue states in the form of hybrid attacks on British infrastructure or economic targets. The publication noted that last month, the British government announced plans to conduct the largest military exercises in decades in 2027, aimed at testing defense systems against threats such as cyberattacks and sabotage.
“These are not imaginary threats. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a direct attack on a drone manufacturing plant—it could happen somewhere in the supply chain for components used in those plants,” said Melanie Garson, an associate professor in the Department of International Security at University College London, in a conversation with reporters.
Garson emphasized that the Kremlin is seeking to exert psychological pressure on British industry and the government.
The publication also noted that at a briefing at the British Ministry of Defense on August 28, officials stated that Russia’s desire to conduct hybrid operations or “gray zone” actions against NATO countries—such as attempts at sabotage and cyberattacks—was “very evident.” However, some officials are confident that Putin will not dare to start a war against NATO countries.
Analysts believe that as tensions escalate, there is a danger that Putin will be backed into a corner where he will have to launch some kind of attack to preserve his authority. But this carries a real risk for the Russian dictator.
“If you constantly make threats but take no actual action, over time your threats lose their credibility, and until you take real action, you won’t be perceived as a serious adversary; therefore, in this sense, I believe this is dangerous,” Matveeva said.
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