The Kremlin accused British experts of participating in a fatal Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Bryansk using British Storm Shadow missiles. They stated that Britain’s involvement would be considered. The Bryansk regional governor confirmed that the strike resulted in six civilian deaths and 37 injuries, labeling it a “terrorist missile attack” without specifying the target.
When asked about a potential military response to the use of British missiles on Russian territory, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Russia would take British involvement into account. Peskov emphasized the necessity of British specialists for launching the missiles. Meanwhile, London has not responded immediately, although Russia has consistently claimed that Ukraine requires Western assistance to utilize advanced missiles against Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the strike as premeditated and targeting civilians, urging the United Nations to investigate the incident. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported in a video address that the strikes targeted a Russian facility producing crucial missile components responsible for attacks on Ukrainian territories.
In another incident, local officials in Kharkiv, Ukraine, reported that a Russian drone struck a civilian business, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries. The mayor of Kharkiv expressed sorrow over the casualties and the serious condition of the wounded, indicating that the attack caused a fire at the business. Kharkiv, near the Russian border, has been a frequent target of Russian air attacks since the invasion in February 2022.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, facilitated by U.S. envoys, began before the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran on Feb. 28. The Kremlin announced that the next round of trilateral talks may occur in Istanbul, building on previous sessions held in the Turkish city and this year in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.