The Kremlin has accused British experts of being involved in a deadly Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Bryansk using British Storm Shadow missiles. The Bryansk regional governor reported that the strike on Tuesday resulted in the death of at least six civilians and injured 37 individuals, labeling it a “terrorist missile attack.” When asked about the potential for a military response to the use of British missiles on Russian territory, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would consider the British role in the incident.
Peskov emphasized that the launch of the missiles could not have occurred without the assistance of British specialists. He highlighted that Russia was aware of this collaboration and would take it into consideration. While there was no immediate response from London, Russia has previously asserted that Ukraine requires Western expertise and targeting data to operate advanced missiles targeting Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the strike as premeditated and aimed at civilians, urging the United Nations to investigate the situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in a video address that the strikes targeted a Russian facility producing critical missile components, referring to a report from Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.
In another incident within Ukraine, officials in Kharkiv reported that a Russian drone strike hit a civilian business, resulting in the death of two individuals and injuring five others. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, stated that all wounded individuals were in serious condition, with the attack causing a fire at the business. Kharkiv, situated near the Russian border, has been a frequent target of Russian air attacks since the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. are expected to continue, with potential discussions in Istanbul. Previous negotiations have taken place in various locations, including Geneva and Abu Dhabi.