A previous Russian president claimed that since the foreign secretary supported Ukraine’s right to attack Russia, British officials are now valid military targets.
Dmitry Medvedev, a close supporter of Vladimir Putin, issued the ultimatum, claiming that the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine amounted to “undeclared war” against Russia.
The UK is de facto leading an undeclared war against Russia today by acting as Ukraine‘s ally and giving it military assistance in the shape of equipment and professionals, according to Mr Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian president‘s security council.
‘That being the case, any of its public officials (either military, or civil, who facilitate the war) can be considered as a legitimate military target.
‘The UK’s foreign secretary [James] Cleverly has stated that Ukraine “has the legitimate right to … project force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project force into Ukraine itself”.
‘According to him, legitimate military targets beyond Ukraine’s border are part of its self-defence.’
He continued: ‘The goofy officials of the UK, our eternal enemy, should remember that within the framework of the universally accepted international law which regulates modern warfare, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions with their additional protocols, their state can also be qualified as being at war.’
Mr Medvedev’s threats come after Mr Cleverly gave a speech in Estonia, outlining the UK’s efforts to bolster support for Ukraine and Nato.
The foreign secretary said Ukraine had ‘the legitimate right to defend itself’.
He added: ‘It has the legitimate right to do so within its own borders, but it does also have the right to project force beyond its borders to undermine Russia’s ability to project force into Ukraine itself.
‘Today, Margus and I discussed the Nato Summit taking place in Vilnius in July.
‘We agreed that we must bolster support for Ukraine and ensure that Nato adapts to an increasingly contested and volatile security environment.
‘And I know that we both feel it’s important that Sweden joins us at the table in Vilnius, too, as a fully fledged member of Nato, and as an important ally to us all.
‘Swedish accession will make us all safer and stronger.’
Russia accused Ukraine of being behind a drone attack on Moscow yesterday which Ukraine denied.
But there has been an escalation of incidents within Russia by Kyiv’s military or local groups opposed to the war.
Defence officials from the UK believe the incursions into Russia are causing the redeployment of Moscow’s forces.
The intelligence briefing from the Ministry of Defence said: ‘Since the start of May 2023, Russia has increasingly ceded the initiative in the conflict and is reacting to Ukrainian action rather than actively progressing towards its own war aims.
‘During May 2023, Russia has launched 20 nights of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicle and cruise missile attacks deep inside Ukraine.
‘Russia has had little success in its likely aims of neutralising Ukraine’s improved air defences and destroying Ukrainian counter-attack forces.
‘On the ground, it has redeployed security forces to react to partisan attacks inside western Russia.’