3 Nov (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign ministry on Thursday lodged a complaint with the British ambassador after summoning him over allegations that British experts were involved in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet. said.
“Borderline stressed that such confrontational actions by the UK could escalate the situation and lead to unpredictable and dangerous consequences.
When Ambassador Deborah Bronnert arrived at the Foreign Office shortly after 10:30 am, a small crowd chanted anti-British slogans and held placards reading “Britain is a terrorist state.” She left after about 30 minutes.
There was no immediate comment from the UK.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said ambassadors were to be summoned over Saturday’s drone attack on Crimea, which Russia unilaterally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
The statement noted that the UK had been training Ukrainian service personnel for some time.
[1/4] British Ambassador to Russia Deborah Bronnert arrives at the Russian Foreign Ministry Headquarters. Activists are protesting after a Russian official said British experts were involved in a Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean peninsula in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 3. , 2022. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
“There is also information that the British Navy has transferred a certain number of unmanned submersibles to the Ukrainian side,” he added.
The UK denies carrying out the attack, but does not hide the fact that it has helped train and arm the Ukrainian military.
After the drone strike, Russia temporarily suspended its participation in the UN-brokered Black Sea grain trade.
President Vladimir Putin says the UK wants to destroy Russia and divide its vast natural resources.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, the UK, along with the US and EU, imposed some of the toughest sanctions in history and supplied weapons to help Ukraine.
The Russian defense ministry also said British naval personnel blew up the Nord Stream gas pipeline in September, a mistake and intended to distract from Russia’s military failures in Ukraine. said London.
Reported by Reuters. Written by Kevin Liffey.Editing by Guy Falconbridge
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