Kyiv; August 2026: On Monday (24th August 2026; Ukraine Local Time) UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reiterated that Ukraine is now competent & confident in producing indigenous Storm Shadow Missiles, as United Kingdom has officially approved the transfer of the relevant technology and will involve defence companies in the cooperation.
Burnham, who is currently visiting Kyiv, said that the UK was the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons back in 2023. He also noted that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked Britain to share Storm Shadow technology so that Ukraine could produce such capabilities independently. The British Prime Minister has further confirmed that he had approved the request, adding that British and French defence industries would work directly with Ukraine to develop the capability. He also thanked President Macron for his support.
Burnham stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to win through a campaign of terror, using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians. The British Prime Minister has emphasised the need to prevent Russia from launching missiles by targeting its supply chains with sanctions and supporting Ukraine’s long-range campaign.
Earlier, the British government have authorised defence company MBDA to disclose classified information about British components of the long-range SCALP missile. SCALP is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow missile. Both missiles use a combination of French and British technologies.
UK Prime Minister’s statement has caused widespread infuriation’s amongst the Russians, who has immediately threatened tostrike Ukrainian enterprises producing long-range weapons. According to the Russian Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted "extremely negatively" to Britain’s intention to share classified data with Ukraine about British components used in SCALP missiles.
Putin’s spokesman traditionally accused London of directly participating in the war and attempting to "disrupt the peace process", while asserting that, "Britain is participating in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime. It is methodically and regularly adding fuel to the fire, while also methodically and regularly scheming to prevent any progress in the peace settlement process".
Peskov also claimed that Russian intelligence is already looking for locations in Ukraine where such weapons could be manufactured or assembled in order to strike them. According to the Russian spokesman, the Russian military is "carrying out the relevant work and obtaining data to identify the locations where such missiles and other military equipment are produced, and is taking measures to destroy the relevant facilities".
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to the Russia’s accusations that Britain was adding fuel to Russia’s war against Ukraine. "Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it", Burnham said.
Meanwhile, somewhat bedazzled by the decision of the UK Government, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that temporary management will be introduced at critical infrastructure facilities in Russia if their owners fail to protect the property from attacks by Ukrainian drones. According to the document, "critical infrastructure facilities" include enterprises in the fuel and energy sector, the energy industry, manufacturing, communications, as well as utility infrastructure, transport and logistics infrastructure.
The list also includes "other facilities" of particular importance for ensuring Russia’s security and economic stability. The grounds those which have been cited for introducing external management:
·failed to take measures to ensure the facility’s security;
·violated protection requirements established by the Russian authorities;
·created a threat to the security and normal operation of the enterprise, including through ineffective measures to counter drone attacks;
·failed to restore damaged infrastructure following attacks.
Under the new decree, Russia’s Federal Agency for State Property Management, Rosimushchestvo, or another entity designated by the Russian government may be appointed as a temporary manager.
The Russian authorities will be able to transfer to such an entity the rights to the enterprise’s real estate, securities and other property belonging to the facility’s owner. Funding for the maintenance of the seized property will be covered by the income generated from its use. The decree has already entered into force.
Team Maverick.
