Britain warns companies supplying arms to Ukraine of risk of Russian attacks — Daily Mail
UK warns Ukrainian arms companies of risk of Russian attacks — Daily Mail
The Daily Mail reports that the heads of British defense companies supplying weapons to Ukraine have been warned that they could become targets of Russian spies.
According to the publication’s source, senior British government officials held a roundtable discussion with defense company executives earlier this summer, where they were told that the Kremlin was increasingly threatening them and their employees.
It is not clear which companies were involved, but it is believed that they were companies that supply weapons and drones to Ukraine.
A number of defense companies known for supplying weapons to Ukraine have already come under the public eye. These include Ukrspecsystems, which is based near RAF Mildenhall in West Suffolk and is producing drones for Ukraine.
BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz also supplies drones to Ukraine. These drones have recently been used in attacks on oil refineries in Russia.
Another major company is MBDA, which makes the Storm Shadow cruise missiles that Ukraine has used in attacks on Russia.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office held the meeting after the revelation of alleged Russian assassination plots against the heads of two German defense companies. One of them was Armin Papperger, the CEO of defense giant Rheinmetall, which has a £4.2 billion contract to supply Ukraine with artillery shells.
Elizabeth Brauw, a security expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, said that defense company executives in the UK and Europe are starting to pay more attention to their own security and the protection of their companies' facilities.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it had begun preparing for mass strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities in accordance with instructions. The ministry called this measure a response to the Kiev regime's ongoing attacks on Russia's civilian infrastructure and fuel and energy complex.