UK drone factories may face attacks from 'unknown sources', says Kremlin adviser

25 August 2026, 03: 15 BST. Updated 1 hour ago.

Key points

• In an interview with Bloomberg, Burnham remarked, "I'm looking forward to going to New York in September, " when the UN General Assembly will meet.
• The UK has additionally agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made components for the Scalp missile, a French version of the UK's Storm Shadow cruise missile.
• When he criticised the UK's decision to share the missile blueprints, the comments are in line with those created by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday.
• In July this year, three weeks after offering Ukraine the right to produce Patriots itself, Trump backtracked, saying, We have not agreed to that.
• Fedorov, who is Russia's former deputy foreign minister, remarked Putin was facing "serious" pressure "to undertake certain measures against UK".

Andrei Fedorov, an adviser to the Kremlin, notes there might be a "semi-military" response against UK drone factories by "unknown sources" over the sharing of military blueprints with Ukraine.

His comments on BBC Newsnight come as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham notes he aims to travel to the US next month with European leaders to lobby US President Trump on Ukraine's defence needs.

He remarked that while the details were not "fully confirmed", it is "likely" he will go. The trip would be his first to the US since becoming prime minister in July.

"Leaving today, I'm quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks, " he remarked after his official visit to Ukraine on Monday, during which he promised to continue pressuring Russia.

Meanwhile, the UK has additionally agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made components for the Scalp missile, a French version of the UK's Storm Shadow cruise missile. The blueprints will allow Ukraine to produce the long-range weapon domestically.

Fedorov, who is Russia's former deputy foreign minister, remarked Putin was facing "serious" pressure "to undertake certain measures against UK". Asked on BBC Newsnight where the pressure was coming from, Fedorov responded, "public opinion polls, it's coming from journalists, from mass media".

Asked what a "semi-military" response might look like, Fedorov remarked "it could take the form of something might happen with enterprises, with factories which are producing drones for Ukraine."

"They could be attacked not by Russia, but by from unknown sources, " he remarked.

When he criticised the UK's decision to share the missile blueprints, the comments are in line with those created by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday. Peskov remarked it prevented "even the slightest progress" towards achieving peace.

He remarked to journalists on Monday that the Russian military was already gathering data to locate any missile production sites to destroy them.

"Britain is involved in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime. Britain methodically and regularly adds fuel to the fire, " he continued.

In response, Burnham remarked: "Who kicked off the fire? That's the question, isn't it?"

Burnham's visit to Ukraine was his first official international visit. He met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and chaired his first session of the "coalition of the willing", set up by the UK and France under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham has been reaffirming the UK's backing for Ukraine after escalating Russian strikes in recent weeks – including one last week on a shopping centre that killed at least 16 individuals.

Ukraine has been relying on American supplies of the Patriot interceptor missiles. It are applied to combat Russia's ballistic missiles, but stockpiles are running low due to the war in Iran, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks.

When Russia is anticipated to growth its attacks on energy infrastructure, as it has done in past years, zelensky has remarked he is hoping to secure 300 patriot missiles ahead of winter.

In the interview with Bloomberg, Burnham remarked that he felt "really confident" that the problem was "fixable". According to But he, it wasn't only the US who could supply Ukraine with Patriots.

"There are other players who could help in the mix who we have influence with, " he remarked. "It's probably going to be a solution that involves a lot of layers and a lot of negotiation."

In July this year, three weeks after offering Ukraine the right to produce Patriots itself, Trump backtracked, saying, "We have not agreed to that. We're talking regarding it. But it's a hard thing to offer away, that kind of technology."

"These weapons are incredible. We have to be particularly careful concerning letting somebody build them, " Trump informed a cabinet gathering.

In a joint statement after the session in Ukraine, Burnham and co-chairs French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated the group would aim to strength Kyiv's air defences "as a matter or urgent priority".

They additionally condemned Moscow's systemic and escalating strikes against Ukraine's cities, critical infrastructure and civilians and pledged to constrain Russia's war chest through sanctions and actions against the shadow fleet.

In an official note ahead of the visit, Burnham remarked: On Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian residents should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.

"I am proud of the contribution our country has created to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian residents to hear it directly from me that our backing will not waver. After all, Ukraine's security is our security."

He remarked the friendship Ukraine shared with the UK would "long outlast Russia's illegal war", adding: "Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."

For now, UK drone factories may face attacks from ' unknown sources' , says Kremlin adviser remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.