Putin's chief propagandist issues revenge threat on UK over missile deal
As many as 350 highly-agile ASRAAM air defence missiles will be sent, worth £70 million – and funded from the interest on seized Russian assets.
Arriving in the Hague, the prime minister said: 'Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin's barbaric and illegal war.
'It is only right we use the proceeds from seized Russian assets to ensure Ukraine has the air defense it needs.'
Rattling Russia further, he vowed that Britain's 'support will never waver' in the war.
The supply of the ASRAAMs was the top subject for Putin's mouthpiece, Vladimir Solovyov, on his Kremlin-funded primetime show on state TV.
He said: 'The British [are giving missiles] to Ukraine, and it will be paid for with our frozen interest. What does that mean?
'All British companies that are still operating in Russia in any way have to pay for it. Perhaps British citizens too.'
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Estimates vary widely, but the number of British citizens in Russia ranges from around 6,400 to more than 22,000.
Solovyov added: 'If we know for a fact that factories are working to supply weapons to the Ukrainian Nazis so that they can shell our cities…
'[And] the British are manufacturing drones, like the Baltic states. Based on the Iranian-Israeli conflict, these are all legitimate targets for us.'
The Kremlin has been riled by the historic first in using seized funds for direct weapon procurement.
The UK government has previously confirmed that £22.7 billion in Russian assets have been frozen under sanctions imposed in response to Russia's full-scale invasion. More Trending
The British-made missiles – also known as AIM-132 – were originally made for aerial combat but have since been adapted as ground-launched from UK‑supplied Raven systems – 4×4 Supacat trucks equipped with twin missile rails and sensors.
The first delivery by the UK of the system reportedly took place in August 2023, with its operational debut in Ukraine confirmed by October the same year.
Footage from the frontline shows the system demolishing Russian drones during nighttime operations.
The missiles have a hit rate of between 70% and 90% against helicopters, loitering munitions, cruise‑type weapons and drones.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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