Russia’s ambassador to the UK ‘blames Britain’ for Ukraine’s daring drone attack & warns of ‘WWIII’ risk

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RUSSIA'S ambassador to the UK has suggested Britain is partly to blame for Ukraine's "historic" drone attack - and warned Kyiv not to "engulf World War Three".

Moscow diplomat Andrei Kelin said that Ukrainian attacks "are bringing the conflict to a different level of escalation".

Portrait of Andrei Kelin, Russian ambassador to the UK.

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The Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin who has been in post since November 2019Credit: The Times

Burning airplane at Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk, Siberia.

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Ukraine hit bombers at the Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk

Large plumes of black smoke rising from an industrial area.

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Multiple aircraft were set ablaze at Belaya Air Base

Illustration of a map detailing a Ukrainian drone operation against Russian airbases.

Over the weekend, Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Ukraine's daring drone blitz on Russian airbases as one for the "history books".

It marked Kyiv's longest range operation of the conflict so far with at least 40 aircraft being attacked as part of the expert operation codenamed "Spiderweb".

In an embarrassing result for a raging Vladimir Putin 34 per cent of his cruise missile carriers at the targeted airfields were blasted, Zelensky said.

A £260million AWACS aircraft and bombers capable of dropping nuclear weapons were also struck.

Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia.

But Russian ambassador to the UK Kelin warned that Kyiv shouldn't "try to engulf World War Three" in an interview with Sky News.

He also seemingly blamed the UK for potentially providing Ukraine with weaponry that could have been used during the weekend attacks.

He said: "[This] kind of attack involves, of course, provision of very high technology, so-called geospaced data, which only can be done by those who have it in possession.

"And this is London and Washington.

"I don't believe that America [is involved], that has been denied by President Trump, definitely, but it has not been denied by London.

Baby among 5 dead as Putin unleashes strikes on Ukraine hours after revenge vow

"We perfectly know how much London is involved, how deeply British forces are involved in working together with Ukraine."

US President Donald Trump has spent the past few months since he returned to office trying to balance his relationship with both Moscow and Kyiv.

In his latest attempt to draw both sides closer to a ceasefire he spoke with Putin over the phone in a 75 minute call.

Trump revealed that the despot made it clear he feels he “will have to respond” to the audacious drone assault.

It comes as The Sun laid out the six possible methods Putin may use to respond to the enemy.

The tyrant could retaliate with one of his terrifying tactical nukes, launch a deadly 7,600mph missile or even order a renewed 50,000 troop assault to overpower his enemies.

The Kremlin gave a chilling response earlier today regarding how they may respond.

A spokesperson said: "Russian Federation will respond to the attack on airfields when and in the way that the military deems appropriate."

And overnight, Vlad already launched his first retaliatory strikes on several residential regions.

The worst saw a baby, their mum and grandma all killed due to a Shahed kamikaze drone blast which caused their home to collapse.

Two others were also found dead in Chernihiv with another 17 seriously wounded in Kharkiv.

Inside Operation Spiderweb

By Foreign News Reporter, James Halpin

UKRAINE'S shock sleeper drone blitz on Russia's bomber fleet has delivered a hammer blow to Vladimir Putin's nuclear arsenal.

The SAS-style strike against four airfields deep inside Russia is reminiscent of the most daring raids of the WW2 that turned the tide against the Nazis.

Volodymyr Zelensky oversaw Operation Spiderweb - much like Winston Churchill did as Britain struck deep behind enemy lines.

Putin's doomsday bomber fleet is now crippled with 41, or a third, of his most prized aircraft lying in smouldering wrecks on tarmac.

Ukraine said the sneak attack was worth $7bn (£5.2bn) in damage to Russia - caused by only 117 cheaply made drones.

Ukraine's spies spent 18 months putting the plan into action and struck on the eve of fresh peace talks in Istanbul.

The drones and the containers were smuggled into Russia separately and were pieced together right under Vlad's nose.

Clueless lorry drivers then parked the containers next to Russian airbases - where they sat and waited in plain sight.

Then, on the morning of June 1, the fleet of flying bombs rose over the far reaches of Russia - and the most daring military operation of the war began.

Nondescript shipping containers parked in laybys and verges had attracted little attention - before their lids blew open and the drone swarms poured out.

The craft buzzed as they took off into the air and only had to travel a short distance to their valuable targets.

Each of the 117 drones had their own dedicated pilot and Russia had little defences to protect their bases and stop them.

Drones with cameras sent video back to HQ in Ukraine of the moment craft struck their targets and explosions ripped into the sky.

Thick black smoke climbed high, with civilians near the bases sending video of Ukraine's successes around the world.

The furthest strike was Belaya Air Base - so far inside Russia that the closest neighbouring country is Mongolia.

Olenya Air Base near Finland and Ivanovo and Dyagilevo near Moscow were also struck in the country's west.

Airplane crash footage.

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Ukraine hit bombers at the Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk

Aerial view of airplane wreckage.

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A satellite picture of the Belaya Airbase shows how a Russian bomber was left smashed to pieces after Ukraine's strikesCredit: AFP

Many drones stored in a warehouse.

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Ukraine released photos of the drones in the crates taken from inside RussiaCredit: Unpixs
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