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Kremlin Says Europe's Drone Cooperation With Ukraine Shows Its Growing Involvement in the War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 17, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 17, 2026
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Russia’s Kremlin warns that list of European drone factories signifies growing European involvement in Ukraine’s war effort, with Medvedev implying these facilities are potential targets and Peskov stopping short of confirming strike intentions.
Kremlin: European Drone Cooperation With Ukraine Shows Growing War Involvement
European Involvement in Ukraine War and Russian Warnings
MOSCOW, April 17 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that European countries were becoming more involved in the war in Ukraine, referencing a warning from Russia's Defence Ministry about drone production sites across the continent and in Britain.
Russian Defence Ministry's Warning on Drone Production
The Defence Ministry on Wednesday warned against European plans to step up drone supplies to Ukraine and published a list of factories and enterprises it alleged manufacture drones or drone components.
List of Countries Allegedly Involved in Drone Manufacturing
It listed facilities in Britain, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Israel and Turkey.
Medvedev's Statement and Potential Consequences
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, said in a subsequent post on X that the list amounted to a list of potential targets for Russia's armed forces. "When strikes become a reality depends on what comes next. Sleep well, European partners!" said Medvedev.
Kremlin's Response to Potential Strikes in Europe
Asked whether the Defence Ministry's publication and Medvedev's comments meant that Russia was genuinely considering striking targets in Europe, Peskov did not give a yes or no answer.
Peskov's Remarks on European Involvement
"These countries are becoming increasingly directly involved in the conflict, in the war surrounding Ukraine," said Peskov. "The details are set out in the Defence Ministry's statement."
(Reporting by Dmitry AntonovWriting by Maxim RodionovEditing by Andrew Osborn)
Key Takeaways
- •Russia has labeled European drone production sites as ‘potential targets’, signaling heightened threat level for those countries.
- •Medvedev’s social‑media post framed the Defence Ministry’s list as a warning that strikes could occur, despite the Kremlin avoiding confirmation.
- •The warnings underscore Europe’s deepening role in supporting Ukraine via drone manufacturing and cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kremlin says Europe's drone cooperation with Ukraine shows its growing involvement in the war
1What did the Kremlin say about Europe's role in the Ukraine war?
The Kremlin stated that European countries are becoming more directly involved in the Ukraine war by supporting Ukraine with increased drone supplies.
2Which European countries did Russia mention in its drone warning?
Russia listed facilities in Britain, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Israel, and Turkey.
3What did Medvedev say about the list of European drone manufacturers?
Dmitry Medvedev called the list of factories a set of potential targets for Russia's armed forces if drone supplies to Ukraine continue.
4Did the Kremlin confirm plans to strike targets in Europe?
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not confirm or deny if Russia was considering attacking European targets, emphasizing their direct involvement in the conflict.
5Why did the Russian Defence Ministry publish a list of drone production sites?
The Russian Defence Ministry warned these sites are involved in drone supplies to Ukraine and could become targets if European collaboration continues.