Britain’s defence firms which supply weapons to Ukraine are warned of Russian spy threat

Bosses of UK defence firms supplying weapons and drones to Ukraine have been warned that they and their staff face an elevated risk of being targeted by Russian intelligence. The warning was delivered by senior government officials during a roundtable meeting with defence company chief executives earlier in the summer, reflecting growing concern that Russia now views anyone involved in supporting Ukraine's war effort as a legitimate target.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office meeting followed foiled Russian assassination plots against the bosses of two German defence firms, including Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger, whose company holds a £4.2 billion contract to supply artillery shells to Ukraine. British firms thought to be affected include Ukrspecsystems, a drone maker based near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, which supplies drones used to strike Russian oil refineries, and MBDA, maker of the Storm Shadow missiles. A security expert from the Atlantic Council said defence industry leaders in the UK and Europe are increasingly focused on their own safety and that of their facilities.