Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned the British charge d’affaires in Moscow on 18 September to formally protest London’s expanding arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that any British military site on Ukrainian soil used to launch attacks on Russian territory is a “legitimate target.”

“Through massive supplies of long-range offensive weapons, London is making itself an accomplice in the bloody atrocities of the Kiev regime, which cannot be described as anything other than terrorism and war crimes,” the ministry said in a statement.

Moscow accused London of steering a Ukraine policy that is “quite clearly aimed at prolonging and escalating the armed conflict by every possible means,” one that only drives a political resolution further out of reach.

During the démarche, Russian officials provided the British diplomat with a list of international obligations they claim the UK is violating by supporting Kiev.

They also outlined the wide-ranging dangers posed by Britain’s “destructive actions” and dismissed its efforts as futile, pointing to the dominance of Russian forces, which the ministry said “hold the strategic initiative in the special military operation zone.”

The ministry stressed that, given British policy, Moscow “reserves the right to take the necessary retaliatory measures in exercising its right to self-defense.”

“Full responsibility for any further adverse developments lies entirely with London,” it warned, calling on Britain to drop its escalatory course and bring its conduct in line with its international commitments.

London has pledged to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine and to keep providing Kiev with military equipment.

This comes after Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned in late August that Moscow’s answer to Ukrainian attacks carried out with British arms “could be directed against any British military facilities and equipment in Ukraine and beyond.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that by arming Kiev with Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, the UK is “participating in this war on the side of the Kiev regime,” adding that Russia is collecting intelligence on Ukrainian sites producing missiles and other military hardware in order to strike them.