Russia Summons UK, France Envoys Over Bryansk Strike

Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the British and French ambassadors in Moscow on Friday to protest a Ukrainian missile strike on the western Russian city of Bryansk earlier in the week, accusing the two nations of direct involvement in the attack.

The incident occurred on March 10, when Ukrainian forces launched at least seven Storm Shadow and Scalp cruise missiles, produced by the Franco-British company MBDA, at targets in Bryansk. Russian authorities reported seven people killed and more than 40 injured in the assault. Ukraine's military acknowledged carrying out the strike, stating it targeted the Kremniy El microchip plant, one of Russia's largest microelectronics manufacturers. Officials in Moscow described the operation as a cross-border attack that could not have succeeded without British and French technical specialists and intelligence support provided to Kyiv.

In meetings with British Ambassador Nigel Casey and French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, Russian diplomats lodged a formal complaint, warning that continued involvement by London and Paris in what they termed Ukrainian war crimes would make the two capitals directly responsible for any escalation or...