Putin: Possible Russian Strikes at UK Military Bases Is ‘Military Secret’
Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to comment on the possibility of Moscow targeting military sites in the United Kingdom in response to British military support for Ukraine, calling it a “military secret.”
Putin’s remark was made at a news conference in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, when asked whether Russia was considering strikes against British military facilities in response to the use of British-supplied weapons by Ukraine.
The comment followed increasingly direct Russian official warnings of possible retaliation against Britain and other Western countries supporting Kyiv.
Russia has previously warned it could target British military sites associated with the conflict. “Catastrophic consequences” could follow for Britain’s support of Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently. Putin's latest response did not confirm a planned attack, but neither did it rule one out.
The comments came as European governments voiced concerns about what they say is a growing Russian campaign of sabotage and other hybrid operations.
Germany on Tuesday formally accused Russia of an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August. The equipment and explosives used were similar to those used in other Russian hybrid operations across Europe, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said. Moscow has rejected the charge.
The incident involved an explosive-laden drone, which authorities found at the airport on Aug. 4. German authorities said their investigation found evidence of Russian state involvement.
The allegations have heightened European government fears over clandestine Russian activity targeting infrastructure and other sites.
Putin also used broader language about Russia's confrontation with the West at the Bishkek news conference. He referred to Western countries as “sharks” and said Russia would respond if it was pushed further down the geopolitical “food chain.”
His remarks came as the war in Ukraine entered its fifth year. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Moscow has failed to achieve a decisive victory despite years of fighting and heavy losses on the battlefield.
Nevertheless, Putin said he was confident Russia would prevail.
At the same time, he said, Moscow was ready to continue talks to end the conflict. He praised U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying they were welcome in Moscow and that he was comfortable working with officials he knows.
The comments noted the various communication channels used by Washington and Moscow to stay in touch even as hostilities continue.
In August, CIA Director John Ratcliffe also travelled unannounced to Moscow and met with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin confirmed the contacts but said Ratcliffe did not meet with Putin.
The visit did not relate to the diplomatic efforts of Witkoff and Kushner. Ratcliffe’s talks have focused on tensions between Russia, Ukraine and NATO, reports have said, but the full details of the meetings have not been made public.
Putin’s comments in Bishkek were thus made against a backdrop of two competing trends: the continued military escalation and the efforts to keep open channels for negotiations.
The immediate significance of Putin’s “military secret” response still isn’t clear for Britain. There is no public evidence a Russian strike on British territory is imminent, and he did not announce plans to attack the UK.
But it is the latest of a series of increasingly pointed Russian warnings to countries sending military aid to Ukraine, as European governments investigate alleged Russian sabotage and other hybrid operations.
The question is then whether the rhetoric remains at the level of deterrence and political pressure or whether it leads to concrete action.
