Kremlin accuses Britain of role in Bryansk missile strike

The Kremlin has accused British experts of involvement in Ukraine's deadly missile strike on the Russian city of Bryansk, claiming the attack used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and could not have been launched without Western expertise.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that "it is obvious that the launch of these missiles was impossible without British specialists." He stated that Russia would consider Britain's role "into account," although he did not specify what form any response might take.

The accusation follows Tuesday's strike on Bryansk, which regional governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said killed at least six civilians and wounded 37 in what he described as a "terrorist missile attack." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Kyiv had struck what he called "one of the key Russian military factories in Bryansk" that produced electronics and components for Russian missiles.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the strike was premeditated and deliberately targeted civilians, challenging the United Nations to evaluate the incident.

There was no immediate comment from London. Russia has previously maintained that Ukraine requires Western expertise, targeting data, and satellite imagery to conduct precision strikes with advanced missiles deep inside Russian territory.

Peskov framed the attack within Russia's broader war objectives, stating that "in order to prevent such barbaric actions by the Kyiv regime from continuing, the special military operation is being carried out," with the goal of demilitarising Ukraine.

The incident marks an escalation in tensions between Moscow and London, with Russia explicitly accusing a NATO member of direct involvement in strikes on its sovereign territory. The claims, if proven, could further strain already tense Russia-West relations amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.