Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, currently serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has issued a stark warning, declaring that British soldiers engaged in training Ukrainian troops could be deemed “legitimate targets” for Moscow’s forces. This comes in response to an announcement by UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps, who revealed discussions with Army leaders regarding the relocation of military training and production into Ukraine.

In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Medvedev stated, “[This will] turn their instructors into a legal target for our armed forces. They will be ruthlessly destroyed. And not as mercenaries, but namely as British NATO specialists.”

This alarming statement follows a significant development in the UK’s stance on the conflict, with reports suggesting a potential deployment of British troops to Ukraine for the first time since the full-scale invasion. Shapps, in discussions with military officials, is exploring the possibility of moving a British-led training program “into Ukraine,” marking a notable escalation in the UK’s commitment to the ongoing crisis.

The decision coincides with Shapps’ recent visit to Kyiv, where he engaged with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Talks included the potential role of the British Navy in safeguarding commercial vessels from Russian attacks in the Black Sea, further deepening the UK’s involvement in supporting Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s aggression.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Shapps shed light on Operation Interflex, a British-led initiative that has trained over 20,000 recruits from the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of 2022. While historically NATO members, including the UK, refrained from formal training programs in Ukraine due to the risk of personnel being drawn into direct combat with Russia, this proposed shift in strategy signals a bold move by the UK to actively contribute to Ukraine’s defence amid heightened tensions.