According to the publication, over the past six months, Ukraine has used drones manufactured by British companies in long-range attacks. In particular, this refers to the Nyan drone, developed by Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of the British defense conglomerate BAE Systems. The Sunday Times noted that British drones were used, among other things, to strike oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl. Ukrainian military confirmed to the publication the use of British devices as part of a campaign of long-range strikes on Russian territory. The oil refinery in Yaroslavl has already been targeted in Ukrainian attacks. In early August, the Ukrainian side reported a strike on the Slavneft-YANOS facility, one of the largest refineries in Russia. According to The Sunday Times, long-range drones are becoming a more accessible alternative for Ukraine compared to Western cruise missiles. The cost of such devices is estimated at around £50,000–100,000, while replenishing stocks of Storm Shadow missiles costs more than £750,000 per unit. Additionally, drones can be produced more quickly and used in larger groups to overload Russian air defense. Nyan belongs to the category of disposable strike drones. According to BAE Systems, the British armed forces tested this platform in 2026 for use on both land and sea. The publication notes that the use of British weaponry for strikes at a significant distance from the Ukrainian border could signify a new stage in military cooperation between London and Kyiv. Previously, the UK had already supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. However, British authorities do not publicly state the direct involvement of the UK in carrying out specific strikes on Russian targets. The country's Ministry of Defense states that it will continue to supply Ukraine with weapons for defense against the Russian invasion. According to The Sunday Times, further expansion of long-range strikes using Western technologies could increase pressure on Russian oil and military-industrial infrastructure. At the same time, experts warn of a possible intensification of Russian hybrid attacks against the UK, including cyberattacks and intelligence activities.
