Ukrainian forces have used British drones to attack targets inside Russia for the first time, marking a significant escalation in UK-Ukraine military cooperation and adding new firepower to Kyiv’s deep-strike campaign.The Sunday Times reported on 15 August that two UK-built drone systems have been deployed against Russian oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl over the past six months, citing Ukrainian military sources. The deployments represent a new phase in London’s military support to Kyiv, with a senior British defence source telling the newspaper that Britain was “not nervous anymore” about Russian pressure.Britain has supplied Ukraine with two distinct systems. The Nyan, a jet-powered one-way attack drone manufactured by BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, can travel more than 150 miles. A second, catapult-launched system has a range exceeding 600 miles, though its manufacturer was withheld on security grounds. Long-range drones typically cost between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds, compared with over 750,000 pounds to replace a single Storm Shadow missile, making them far more cost-effective for sustained mass strikes.
A Cheaper Way to Sustain Pressure on Russian Air Defenses
The drones extend a wider British support package that includes funding for 150,000 Ukrainian-produced drones by the end of 2026, British Rapid Ranger systems deployed against Russian Shahed drones, and Storm Shadow cruise missiles used inside Russia. Ukrainian forces said the British systems proved reliable in operational conditions.
When we launch them, we always say Slava Ukraini and God save the King.
A senior Ukrainian military source told The Sunday Times. Former UK Air Marshal Greg Bagwell predicted Moscow would “sabre rattle” and potentially declare British factories legitimate targets, while other defence sources warned of intensified cyberattacks or espionage against the UK.
Deep Strikes Reach 52 Russian Regions
The deployments come amid a broader Ukrainian deep-strike campaign that has expanded dramatically. The Sunday Times reported almost 700 successful deep strikes between January and June, reaching 52 Russian regions and causing more than 35 billion pounds (approximately 47.3 billion dollars) in economic damage. Ukrainian drone production has surged from over 1,000 drones launched against Russia in August 2024 to 3,000 in July 2025 and 7,000 in March 2026, according to data from Ukraine’s Air Force and industry analysts.The British systems help Ukraine sustain its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, logistics hubs, and military targets without depleting limited stocks of Western long-range missiles. Ukrainian forces can stockpile and launch drones in swarms, straining Russian air defenses that have been progressively degraded by years of attrition. Russia’s layered air defense architecture, which once made Moscow and deep rear areas relatively safe, has become increasingly porous as Ukraine has systematically targeted radar stations and missile launchers.
Sources: The Sunday Times; Euromaidan Press; Defence Blog; UNITED24 Media
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