Top Russian official says British politicians now a legitimate military target

A senior Russian official has declared that British politicians are now legitimate military targets for Moscow in response to the UK’s Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s statement that Ukraine has the right to use force within Russian borders.

Cleverly made his remarks while speaking in Estonia, stating that Ukraine has the right to project force beyond its own borders as part of its self-defense, following a series of drone strikes that targeted affluent neighborhoods in Moscow. The UK minister argued that Ukrainian strikes inside Russia would undermine the Kremlin’s ability to continue its war in Ukraine, despite Russia officially denying responsibility for the attack.

In response, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, retaliated by asserting that the UK is de facto leading an undeclared war against Russia by providing military aid and specialists to Ukraine. He claimed that any public officials, whether military or civilian, who support the war can be considered legitimate military targets. Medvedev further warned that the UK, as an enemy state, can also be classified as being at war under the universally accepted international law governing modern warfare, including the Hague and Geneva Conventions.

However, Cleverly’s remarks seem to diverge from the position of the United States. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated during a briefing that the US is still gathering information regarding the reports of drone attacks in Moscow and unequivocally stated that they do not support attacks inside Russia.