UK drone factories may face attacks from 'unknown sources', says former Russian minister - BBC News

The comments on BBC Newsnight come after the UK announced it has agreed to hand over blueprints for British-made missile components to Ukraine.

Image source, WPA Pool via Getty ImagesImage caption, Burnham travelled to Ukraine on Monday to meet with Zelensky and chair his first 'coalition of the willing' meeting

A Russian former deputy foreign minister has said there might be a "semi-military" response against UK drone factories by "unknown sources" over the sharing of blueprints for British-made cruise missile components.

Andrei Fedorov's comments on BBC Newsnight come as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to travel to the US next month with European leaders to lobby President Donald Trump on Ukraine's defence needs.

Burnham's trip, should it go ahead, would be his first to the US since becoming prime minister.

"Leaving today, I'm quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks," he said following his visit to Ukraine on Monday, during which he promised to continue pressuring Russia.