Andy Burnham has reportedly been warned by security experts that Britain faces a "direct response" from Vladimir Putin over its support for Ukraine, after the Prime Minister's visit to Kyiv dispelled Kremlin hopes that he would take a softer line than his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer. The warning matters because it points to escalating tension between Russia and the UK, with sources suggesting an attack on British defence or security infrastructure is now "inevitable" given the UK's high-profile backing of Ukraine, including intelligence-sharing and military cooperation.

Sources told the Daily Mail that Russia might respond through actions such as a drone attack, arson, or cyber strikes, potentially using sleeper cells already in the country, while trying to keep any action below the threshold that would trigger a Nato military response. The alert coincided with an emergency visit to Moscow by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who reportedly warned the Kremlin against escalating the war, including through nuclear use or strikes on Ukraine's Western allies. Russia's withdrawal of its ambassador to London and a former Russian deputy foreign minister's comments about possible "semi-military" or hacking action were cited as further signs of rising tension, while UK defence manufacturers are said to be tightening physical and cyber security.