Taryn Pedler

A Berkshire-based drone manufacturer, Malloy Aeronautics, has supplied Ukraine with drones used to strike Russian industrial, military and logistics targets, including a major bridge in occupied Kherson. The company's role has raised concerns that Russia could retaliate against its facilities or supply chains through sabotage, cyberattacks, espionage, arson or pressure on UK infrastructure. Experts say a direct physical attack is unlikely, but digital and covert operations remain credible threats. The UK government says it is protecting defence firms and will continue supplying Ukraine, while BAE Systems confirmed its support for the UK's military assistance programme.

Ukrainian drone strikes on Wildberries warehouses and other targets deep inside Russia are exposing weaknesses in Moscow’s air defences and challenging Vladimir Putin’s carefully cultivated image of security and control. Ukraine argues that Wildberries’ distribution network supports military and dual-use supply chains, while the company and Kremlin deny that it supplies the Russian army. The attacks have reportedly damaged nearly 30 per cent of the company’s warehouse capacity, causing billions in losses and disrupting a service used by millions of Russians. With Russia approaching State Duma elections, the strikes are intended to make the war more personally and economically inconvenient for the Russian public. Analysts warn that the campaign could provoke Russian retaliation against civilian infrastructure or Western allies, particularly as British-made drones are reportedly being used in some Ukrainian missions.