European countries openly rejected the list of targets published by the Russian Ministry of Defense, however among politicians and experts there are already warnings that the continent may find itself in a potential “line of fire”.
The leadership of the European Union formally ignored the list published by Russia of companies participating in the production of drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, inside the European Union and among independent experts, no unified position has been formed.
European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper stated that Brussels does not intend to respond to such statements from Moscow. According to her, the European Union is focused on supporting Ukraine and strengthening its own defense system. She also pointed to Russia’s economic difficulties, noting the growth of the budget deficit at the beginning of 2026.
During a visit to Vilnius, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur expressed trust in NATO allies and stated that he relies on the United States and all partners.
At the same time, British politician Jim Ferguson stated a qualitative change in the situation. According to him, Russia’s direct warning means that Europe is now effectively on the “line of fire”. He emphasized that from Moscow’s point of view, the location of these facilities no longer guarantees their protection.
Diplomatic reaction also followed at the official level. Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka summoned the Russian ambassador in Prague to provide explanations regarding the statements.
British media report that Moscow may consider military-industrial facilities in NATO countries as potential targets, which is interpreted as a change in the alliance’s deterrence approach.
Among possible targets is also mentioned the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, where British and American forces are stationed.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrey Kelin, in an interview with the BBC called for de-escalation and the resumption of dialogue. He also criticized military aid to Kyiv, stating that it “only prolongs Ukraine’s suffering and extends the war”.
It is noted that the publication by the Russian Ministry of Defense of a list of companies from the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Israel and Turkey came after new agreements by Kyiv with European partners on the production of long-range drones. According to Russian sources, this means a significant expansion of the industrial base working in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Moscow considers this a deliberate action leading to a serious escalation of the situation in Europe. In the past four years, the EU has significantly increased its military assistance to Kyiv, and now such companies — from large manufacturers to small startups — are actively involved in defense projects. Many of them now openly state that they are working in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This is not about “ordinary” defense factories, but about specific projects and joint ventures adapted for the needs of the Ukrainian army.
This raises the main question: what happens next? The publication of the list by the Ministry of Defense does not mean immediate strikes on these facilities, but it is considered a signal, notes Eadaily.com. Other forms of pressure are also being discussed, primarily in logistics matters. It is difficult to hide the movement of drones and components, because the routes are known.
Transport hubs may be targeted: crossings on the Polish direction, routes through the Carpathians and Romania, as well as the ports of Odessa.
Experts also do not rule out other methods of influence traditionally used in military conflicts.
The situation remains tense, and analysts do not exclude further escalation of this trend.
