Here’s all the known information about Vladimir Putin and Russia’s alleged UK ‘target list’ amidst ongoing discussions about a potential World War III.
This year, President Donald Trump has engaged with both Ukrainian and Russian officials, yet a resolution seems distant following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.
Last month, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s senior advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had an extensive five-hour meeting at the Kremlin.
Despite these interactions, Putin has issued a warning indicating Russia’s readiness to engage in conflict if necessary in Europe.
“We’re not planning to go to war with Europe, I’ve said that a hundred times,” stated the Russian president after an investment forum.
“But if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we’re ready right now. There can be no doubt about that.”
The UK has consistently supported Ukraine since the onset of the conflict, with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace sharing a map outlining a plan to render Crimea ‘uninhabitable’ for Russia.
“Ukraine does not need to invade the peninsula (which I concede would be incredibly difficult if not impossible) but they should choke it to death,” Wallace commented.
In response to these statements, a former Russian official disclosed details about the UK’s ‘target list’ in the event of a comprehensive war breaking out across Europe.
Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian deputy prime minister, provided specifics on the priority targets for long-range strikes if Russia were to engage in conflict with the UK.
The list includes locations in the UK that house key suppliers of military equipment and weaponry.
Glasgow – BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Thales
Belfast – Harland & Wolff, Spirit Aerosystems, Thales
Fivemiletown – Cooneen Defence
Barrow-in-Furness – BAE Systems
Bolton – MBDA
Telford – RBSL
Aberporth – QinetiQ, Tekever
Merthyr Tydfil – General Dynamics
Glascoed – BAE Systems
Bristol – Airbus, BAE Systems, GKN Aerospace, Leonardo, MBDA, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce
HMNB Devonport – Babcock
Yeovil – Leonardo
Aldermaston – AWE
London – Helsing, Palantir
Stevenage – Airbus, MBDA
Ampthill – Lockheed Martin
Derby – Rolls-Royce
Sheffield – Sheffield Forgemasters
Warton & Samlesbury – BAE Systems
Newton Aycliffe – Octric Semiconductors
Tyne & Wear – BAE Systems, Leonardo
Edinburgh – Leonardo
Rosyth – Babcock, QinetiQ
Documents reviewed by the Financial Times earlier this year indicated that Russia has been training its navy to target sites deep within Europe, in case of a conflict with the UK.
Recently, Business Insider reported that Russian forces have been practicing with naval drones equipped with explosives to simulate attacks on ships.
According to the report, this training is likely not aimed at the Ukrainian conflict, given Kyiv’s lack of a conventional navy, but rather directed at NATO due to the possibility of a conflict with the alliance.
As a NATO member, the UK would invoke Article 5 of the mutual defense agreement should Russia attack, which obligates all NATO members to respond collectively.
The NATO article specifies: “The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.”