Russian president Vladimir Putin has issued a presidential decree to allow the Russian state to take control of private critical infrastructure if they are not protected from Ukrainian drone attacks. Putin’s order covers online retail warehouses that have increasingly been targeted by Kyiv, as well as energy, industrial and transport facilities deemed critical to the stability of the nation. It comes as Ukraine has expanded its aerial assault on Russian infrastructure, repeatedly targeting logistics centres belonging to shopping websites Wildberries and now Ozon.
Ukraine has accused these facilities of providing support to Russia’s armed forces. Earlier, Britain and France pledged to provide Ukraine with access to classified technology and faster deliveries of air defence missiles during a meeting of allies to mark Kyiv's Independence Day celebrations. Andy Burnham offered Ukraine the UK’s unwavering support “despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country”.
The moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war," Burnham said, calling for further economic sanctions. European leaders brought pledges of further military and financial support as they met Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv yesterday for Ukraine’s Independence Day celebrations. PM Andy Burnham announced his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile.
That paves the way for France and Ukraine to advance plans for the weapon's production in Ukraine. SCALP is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems incorporating shared technology. Russia, meanwhile, is getting help from North Korea and China.
A British man has died fighting for Russia after being killed in a drone attack in Ukraine, according to a report. Bradley Townsend, 33, from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, is reported to be the first UK national killed fighting for President Vladimir Putin. According to LBC, the former fisherman travelled to Moscow in April where he met other British pro-Russian fighters Aiden Minnis and Ben Stimson who are thought to have recruited him online.
He was killed in a “storm operation” on 10 June, according to a Russia-linked social media account seen by LBC. Townsend was described as a “warrior in a holy war” who had “sacrificed his life for the cause” by the account. Ukraine has targeted four logistics hubs owned by Russia's second-largest online retailer Ozon, widening a campaign of drone strikes on Russian e-commerce companies intended to inflict more damage on the war-battered economy.
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