Daily Mail: Russia Is Preparing To Attack The U.K. And Has Already Identified Targets
- 30.08.2026, 12:21
This is not a direct military strike.
Russia may be preparing new hybrid attacks against the United Kingdom, and the potential targets have reportedly already been identified. This does not refer to a direct military strike against the NATO country, but rather to possible acts of sabotage, arson, and other operations that Moscow could use to put pressure on London.
Among the potential targets cited are a British-Ukrainian drone manufacturing company and the missile manufacturer MBDA. This is reported by the British publication Daily Mail reports, citing statements by former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov, as well as British officials and experts.
Russia May Opt for a Hybrid Attack
Fedorov stated that the possibility of a “hybrid attack” against the United Kingdom is allegedly being discussed “at the highest levels of the Russian government.” According to him, Moscow is considering actions such as sabotage or arson, since a direct military strike against a NATO country could trigger a collective response from the Alliance.
At the same time, the former Russian official called the UK “the number one evil,” citing its support for Ukraine as the reason.
“Various experts are calling for the UK to be punished with a strike, and this would be supported by the majority of Russian citizens,” Fedorov said.
What Facilities Could Be Targets
According to the publication, one potential target could be Ukrspecsystems, a company that manufactures drones and has British-Ukrainian origins. In April, details emerged in the public domain about the location of the company’s production facilities near the British Royal Air Force’s Mildenhall Air Base in West Suffolk.
Fedorov also mentioned the missile manufacturer MBDA. It is this company that produces the Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which the UK has supplied to Ukraine.
“Many experts in Moscow say that yes, this is a legitimate target. Absolutely,” he said.
MBDA employs about 4,000 people, and the company’s headquarters are located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
The UK Rejects the Kremlin’s Threats
British Defense Minister Wes Stritting stated that London has no intention of succumbing to intimidation from Moscow.
“The reckless rhetoric and attempts at intimidation we have seen from the Kremlin in recent weeks reflect the weakness of Putin’s position, and we will not be intimidated,” the minister said.
According to him, the Russian leadership has not achieved significant success on the battlefield, and the Russian army’s losses continue to rise.
“This year has been a failure for Putin. The front line has barely moved. Russian casualties continue to rise. The Russian people are paying a high price for Putin’s war,” Stritting said.
He also emphasized that the United Kingdom will continue to support Ukraine.
Britons Warned of New Attacks
Atlantic Council expert Elizabeth Brou explained that hybrid operations create a complex situation for target countries, as responding to them can be difficult.
“I call hybrid threats the defender’s dilemma, because it really is a defender’s dilemma,” she said.
According to her, an overly harsh military response to such an attack could create the risk of further escalation.
Western officials have also warned that Russia may step up hybrid operations in Europe while trying to avoid a direct confrontation with NATO.
New threats are being made in Moscow
Over the past week, Russian officials—in particular, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova—have made threatening statements directed at the United Kingdom.
“The government of Andy Bernham understands where this will lead. They should realize that this is playing with fire and that the consequences could be unpredictable,” Zakharova said.
In addition, the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel ATO Donetsk called for the NATO military base in Tapa, Estonia, to be considered a potential target. Approximately 900 British military personnel are stationed there.
The channel’s authors noted that the base is located approximately 150 kilometers from Russia, calling the Baltic states “a very convenient target for demonstration tests.”
The UK has already faced hybrid attacks
According to the Daily Mail, since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the UK has repeatedly warned of the threat of hybrid operations.
Specifically, in March 2024, a warehouse in Leyton, in east London, containing humanitarian aid for Ukraine, burned down. British investigators linked the arson to Russian operatives.
In June, two men were also sentenced to prison for a series of arson attacks on homes and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Against this backdrop, British officials are emphasizing the need to strengthen defenses against sabotage and other forms of hybrid aggression.
Ukrspecsystems declined to comment on the publication’s report. MBDA representatives were unable to obtain a comment from the Daily Mail.
An anti-British exhibition is being prepared in Moscow
Separately, the publication drew attention to the activities of Russian lawmaker Andrei Lugovoi, whom the United Kingdom links to the murder of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko.
Lugovoy denies any involvement in Litvinenko’s poisoning and currently serves as a deputy in the State Duma of the Russian Federation. According to the Daily Mail, he plans to hold an anti-British exhibition in Moscow later this year in a building across from the British Embassy.
The event will be dedicated to Britain’s so-called “colonial crimes” and will be titled “Britlag”—a play on the word “GULAG.”