Ukraine has been using British-made drones to strike targets deep inside Russia in recent months, including fuel facilities in Volgograd and the Moscow region, according to a report by The Times of London.

One of the drones, the BAE Systems-made Nyan, can reportedly travel up to approximately 240 kilometers and carry a payload of up to 20 kilograms. Ukraine is also using another British drone capable of traveling as far as 965 kilometers, although its identity has not been disclosed for security reasons.

A senior British defense official told The Times that Russia had been highly effective in intimidating Western countries against striking it too aggressively.

“The significance of these strikes is that Britain is effectively signaling to Russia and our allies that we are no longer afraid,” the official said.

The report comes as Ukraine expands its campaign against targets deep inside Russian territory. According to The Times, the attacks have already inflicted an estimated $47 billion in damage to Russian infrastructure and its oil and fuel industry.

Britain previously imposed restrictions on the use of weapons it supplied to Ukraine against targets deep inside Russia, but those restrictions have reportedly been eased.

In June, the British Defense Ministry announced plans to provide Ukraine with 150,000 drones during the year, worth approximately $996 million.

Russia responded angrily to the growing British involvement. The Russian Embassy in Britain warned that London would “pay” for its assistance to Ukraine and said British involvement would have consequences.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded by pledging continued support for Kyiv, saying Britain would “support Ukraine 100%.”

“We’re not just friends when it’s convenient,” Burnham said. “We will be there for Ukraine in its hour of need, and that will not change.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)