LONDON – British politicians are now a legitimate military target for Moscow, a senior Russian official said, after British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly argued that Ukraine has the right to use force within Russia’s borders.
Speaking in Estonia on Tuesday, Cleverly said Ukraine « has the right » to project force « beyond its borders » as part of its self-defence, following a series of drone attacks that hit wealthier neighborhoods in Fly. The British minister argued that Kiev’s attack inside Russia would « undermine » the Kremlin’s ability to continue its war in Ukraine, which has officially denied responsibility for the attack.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, responded on Wednesday by claiming the UK was « in fact waging an undeclared war against Russia » by providing Ukraine with military aid and specialists.
« That being the case, any of its public officials (whether military or civilian, who facilitate war) can be considered legitimate military targets, » he wrote. on Twitter.
Medvedev, who regularly makes outspoken remarks about the war in Ukraine and has called for the killing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, warned: « The clumsy officials of the United Kingdom, our eternal enemy, should remember that within the framework of universally accepted international law that regulates modern warfare, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions with their additional protocols, their status may also qualify as at war.
Cleverly’s remarks meanwhile appear to be at odds with the US position. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a briefing Tuesday that the United States is still gathering intelligence on reports of drones hitting Moscow.
“We do not support attacks inside Russia. That’s all. Period,” she said.
