The Russian Defense Ministry warned today that European plans to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine are dragging these countries deeper into the war with Russia, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The ministry said it believes that the governments of a number of EU countries have decided to increase the production and supply of drones to Ukraine, which Moscow sees as a step that escalates the conflict.
The ministry published a list of factories and enterprises in several European countries that it claims produce drones or components for them, and indicated their addresses, including facilities in Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel and Poland.
"The European public should not only have a clear understanding of the real reasons for the threats to their security, but also be familiar with the addresses and locations of Ukrainian and joint ventures producing unmanned aerial vehicles and components for Ukraine in their own countries," the statement said.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said in a subsequent publication in "Ex" that the list published by the military is a list of potential targets for the Russian armed forces.
"The statement of the Russian Defense Ministry should be understood in the most literal sense: the publication of the locations of production of drones and other military equipment in Europe is a register of potential legitimate targets for the Russian armed forces. When the possibility of a strike will become a reality will depend on the development of the situation," Medvedev wrote, quoted by TASS. "Sweet dreams, European partners!", he added.
Russian officials, including Medvedev, have repeatedly made public statements that have been perceived as threats to European countries for their support for Ukraine, Reuters points out. But these actions have more often been taken as warnings and veiled hints than as direct announcements of impending strikes.