British public officials are now “legitimate military target” because of the UK’s support for Ukraine, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has warned.
Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, claimed the UK’s support for Kyiv amounted to an “undeclared war” against Russia.
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Medvedev wrote: “The goofy officials of the UK, our eternal enemy, should remember that within the framework of the universally accepted international law which regulates modern warfare, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions with their additional protocols, their state can also be qualified as being at war.
Drone Attacks on Moscow
Medvedev’s comments came after British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that Ukraine had the right to “project force beyond its borders” to resist the Russian invasion.
Russian authorities said drones crashed into three residential buildings in Moscow in the early hours of May 30, causing no casualties and only minor damage.
The Russian Defence Ministry described it as a “terrorist attack” and blamed Ukraine for the incident.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential aide, denied Kyiv was directly involved but said “we are pleased to watch events” and forecast more such strikes.
Asked about the incident at a press conference in Estonia, Cleverly said: “Ukraine does have the legitimate right to defend itself. It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders of course, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project force into Ukraine itself.
“So legitimate military targets beyond its own border are part of Ukraine’s self-defence. And we should recognise that.”
Cleverly’s stance appears to differ from that of the United States.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing on Tuesday: “We do not support attacks inside of Russia. That’s it. Period.”
Attacks Inside Russia
Tuesday’s incident was the second drone attack to target the Russian capital in less than a month.On May 2, the Kremlin itself was targeted by two combat drones, which failed to cause casualties or significant material damage.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine early last year, attacks inside Russian territory—of varying size and intensity—have occurred with increasing frequency.
On May 22, pro-Ukrainian forces staged a large-scale assault, using drones and artillery, on Russia’s western Belgorod region. In March, Russia’s Bryansk region was the target of a similar cross-border attack.
In both cases, the attackers were swiftly repelled by Russian security forces.
Last December, three Russian airbases—all inside Russian territory—were struck by drones, damaging aircraft and killing servicemen. While Kyiv refrained from claiming responsibility, the attacks were celebrated by Ukrainian officials.
UK defence officials believe the incursions into Russia are causing the redeployment of Moscow’s forces.
The intelligence briefing from the Ministry of Defence said: “Since the start of May 2023, Russia has increasingly ceded the initiative in the conflict and is reacting to Ukrainian action rather than actively progressing towards its own war aims.
“During May 2023, Russia has launched 20 nights of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicle and cruise missile attacks deep inside Ukraine.
“Russia has had little success in its likely aims of neutralising Ukraine’s improved air defences and destroying Ukrainian counter-attack forces. On the ground, it has redeployed security forces to react to partisan attacks inside western Russia.”
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