Putin addresses latest threats as he says whether Russia will target UK is a ‘military secret’

The president himself has spoken...

In the past few days, Russia has continuously issued threats to the UK, following the British government’s decision to provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow blueprints.

Fears of a World War 3 fears have been ratcheted up further as another serious warning from Russia was made towards the UK by a former colonel, next to a chilling map of potential strike targets in the UK.

Military expert and former colonel Mikhail Khodaryonok recently said on Russian television that he would “carry out strikes against the UK” if he was in charge.

Putin’s direct message to the UK following the threats

The Russian leader was asked this week whether his country was weighing up possible strikes on British military sites.

In response to the question, Putin gave a short but clear message, simply saying it is a “military secret”.

Chillingly, the Russian president made no further comment on the issue.

Putin, however, denied claims of a looming post-election military mobilisation in Russia and rejected German accusations regarding a drone incident.

Asked about reports that Moscow could announce another mobilisation after upcoming State Duma elections, Putin interrupted the reporter and said: “This is absolute nonsense. This is an information attack on Russia.”

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned that Moscow could resort to another mobilisation drive, with the intention to recruit around 300,000 personnel in 2026 and another 300,000 in 2027.

How the tensions between the UK and Russia have escalated

It was only last week when UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to provide Ukraine with blueprints to build long-range missiles, despite threats from Russia.

This decision by Burnham will allow European defence firm MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile, which is the French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow.

In order to produce them in the invaded country, Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines.

Following PM Burnham’s approval, Russia warned the UK that it was “playing with fire”.

The Prime Minister’s approval was made amid warnings from Russia that the UK would pay a “price”, following reports that the drones had been used in strikes deep inside Russia.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at HM Naval Base in Portsmouth, Hampshire (Getty Images)

Russia’s embassy in London went so far as to even accuse Britain of becoming “an accomplice and co-perpetrator” of the attacks and of “deliberately opting for an escalation” in the conflict.

Following this accusation, the UK Ministry of Defence said: “Britain stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and we are committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against Putin's illegal invasion.”

“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies”, the ministry added.

Russia warned the residents of the UK of unavoidable catastrophic consequences

Russia’s foreign ministry also issued a warning to Britain and its people in recent days, claiming that it could strike British military facilities.

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in a weekly briefing in Moscow last week said that Russia could retaliate against Britain by striking its facilities both inside and outside of Ukraine.

Foreign Affairs Ministry's Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova and President Vladimir Putin during an award ceremony at the Kremlin, on December 24, 2025 in Moscow (Getty Images)

Zakharova added that the UK risks taking the conflict to a new level, as she called on the UK to back off its “hostile line” on Ukraine.

“We are urging all residents of the United Kingdom to think about the unavoidable catastrophic consequences of the hostile moves of their authorities,” the foreign ministry spokeswoman said.

Zakharova further added that London was “one step away” from becoming legally complicit in ‌what she called “terrorism” against Russian ⁠civilians, something she said that, unless Britain changed course, would have “catastrophic consequences”.