Ukraine uses British-made drones in deep strikes inside Russia for first time

Sources in the Ukrainian armed forces told The Times that Ukraine has used British-made drones in long-range attacks targeting sites inside Russian territory over the past six months, marking the first confirmed use of these systems in such operations.

The sources said the targets included oil refineries and logistics facilities in the Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Volgograd regions, as well as strikes in the Belgorod area near the Ukrainian border.

Details of the British drones used

According to The Times, drones produced by two British companies took part in these operations, including the jet-powered Nyan drone developed by Callen-Lenz, part of the BAE Systems group. The Nyan features a carbon fiber body and a wingspan of about 2.9 meters, with a range exceeding 240 kilometers. It is designed to carry out precision strikes in complex operational environments.

The second British system has not been named, nor has its manufacturer been disclosed for security reasons. However, Ukrainian sources said it has a range of more than 960 kilometers and is launched from a system that allows for successive operations.

Boosting Ukrainian capabilities and possible repercussions

The sources confirmed that the vast majority of Ukraine's long-range attacks still rely on domestically produced drones, but the introduction of British systems has given Kyiv additional capabilities and achieved successful results in targeting Russian infrastructure.

This development comes as Ukraine has intensified its long-range strikes against industrial and military facilities inside Russia, which may raise concerns in London about possible Russian retaliation, particularly through increased hybrid warfare activities such as cyberattacks, espionage, and sabotage.

In this context, BAE Systems stated that it provides the UK Ministry of Defence with capabilities as part of British support for Ukraine, noting that the Nyan system was designed to address emerging threats and operate in complex environments.

The use of these systems, alongside Ukraine's continued reliance on its own drones, reflects a further evolution in military cooperation between London and Kyiv as the Russia-Ukraine war continues.