Senior executives of British defence companies supplying weapons to Ukraine have been cautioned about increased threats from Russian intelligence, according to officials familiar with a recent government briefing. The warnings, delivered during a roundtable discussion earlier this summer, highlighted the heightened risks facing company leaders and their staff amid ongoing conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine.
Although the exact attendees were not disclosed, the session reportedly included chiefs from firms involved in providing military equipment and drones to Ukrainian forces. Prominent British companies mentioned in relation to the briefing include Ukrspecsystems, based near RAF Mildenhall in West Suffolk, which manufactures drones for Ukraine; Callen-Lenz, a subsidiary of BAE Systems that supplied drones used in recent strikes on Russian oil refineries; and MBDA, known for producing Storm Shadow missiles deployed in attacks deep inside Russia.
The meeting, convened by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, followed revelations that the heads of two German defence companies had been targeted in foiled assassination attempts linked to Russian operatives. One of those targeted was Armin Papperger, CEO of defence contractor Rheinmetall, which holds a £4.2 billion contract to supply artillery shells to Ukrainian forces.
Elisabeth Braw, a security analyst at the Atlantic Council, emphasized the shifting threat landscape for defence suppliers in Europe, noting that leaders and their organisations are increasingly aware of the need to enhance personal and corporate security. According to Braw, Russia’s actions signal an expanded targeting strategy encompassing all individuals and entities involved in supporting Ukraine’s defence efforts.
The warnings underscore the broader security challenges faced by defence industries amid escalating tensions and proxy conflicts between Russia and Western-aligned states supporting Ukraine. The UK government’s alert serves as a precautionary measure to help safeguard critical defence infrastructure and personnel from foreign espionage and hostile operations.