A former Russian deputy foreign minister has claimed the Kremlin is considering a "hybrid attack" against Britain, potentially targeting a drone factory and a missile manufacturer, rather than risking a direct military strike that could trigger a Nato response. Andrei Fedorov told the Mail on Sunday that anger in Russia over UK-made drones used against Russian oil refineries had made Britain "evil number one" among Russian officials and citizens, with some experts reportedly calling for retaliatory action.

Among the sites named is Ukrspecsystems, a British-Ukrainian drone maker based next to RAF Mildenhall in West Suffolk, whose location was publicised in April alongside five other European firms supplying Ukraine. Also mentioned is MBDA, the Stevenage-based arms firm that makes Storm Shadow missiles and employs 4,000 people, with Fedorov citing Moscow's anger at Prime Minister Andy Burnham for giving Ukraine the missiles' blueprints. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed the Kremlin's rhetoric as a sign of weakness, while an Atlantic Council analyst noted that hybrid attacks are designed to place targeted nations in a difficult position over how to respond without escalating to full-scale conflict.