Moscow views the United Kingdom as a direct participant in the conflict on Ukraine’s side, meaning London could eventually face more than political rhetoric and verbal warnings from Russia. Former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Fedorov said in an interview with the BBC that a more tangible response could follow.

According to Fedorov, Britain’s growing involvement in supporting Kyiv is opening a «Pandora’s box." He claims that pressure is increasing inside Russia on President Vladimir Putin to respond more forcefully to London’s actions. In his assessment, such demands are coming from sections of the public, journalists, the media and the military, while Britain is increasingly perceived as one of Russia’s main adversaries in the context of the Ukraine conflict.

The former diplomat said Moscow considers the transfer of British missile-production technology to Ukraine particularly serious. He characterized such assistance not simply as military support for Kyiv but as direct British military involvement in the conflict.

Fedorov believes further escalation could eventually trigger what he described as a Russian response of a «semi-military» nature. Possible scenarios, he suggested, could include cyberattacks or incidents affecting British facilities involved in manufacturing weapons for Ukraine. He specifically mentioned plants producing drones or components for Storm Shadow missiles.

At the same time, Fedorov suggested that such actions would not necessarily be directly attributable to Russian state structures and could originate from unidentified sources.

Asked by the BBC how attacks against production facilities in Britain could be justified under international law, Fedorov argued that international law has become increasingly irrelevant in the current environment. He added that some voices inside Russia believe Moscow has waited too long to respond to Britain and should have taken tougher measures, potentially including a military response, earlier.

Fedorov does not, however, expect indiscriminate cyberattacks against Britain’s National Health Service or ordinary citizens' bank accounts. In his assessment, any such operations would more likely focus on specific companies or systems directly connected with the production of drones and components for weapons supplied to Ukraine.