UK-Made BAE Systems Drones Used in Deep Strikes on Russian Refineries
Reporting
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LONDON — Ukrainian forces have deployed British-made strike drones, including a jet-powered system manufactured by a BAE Systems subsidiary, to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, according to defense sources and corporate disclosures in mid-August 2026.
The operations, which targeted oil refineries near Moscow, Yaroslavl, Volgograd, and Belgorod, mark the first publicly disclosed use of UK-supplied uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) inside internationally recognized Russian borders, as reported by The Times. One of the primary platforms identified in the strikes is the jet-powered "Nyan" drone, developed by BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz, according to Euromaidan Press.
UK Ministry of Defence sources confirmed the accuracy of the reports to The Guardian, marking an official acknowledgment of the deep-strike campaign. A spokesperson for BAE Systems subsequently confirmed to The Mail that the company delivers a range of capabilities to the UK Ministry of Defence to support Ukraine's defense, noting that the Nyan platform is proven in highly contested environments.
BAE Systems Nyan Drone (Video 🎥)
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In response to the disclosures, the Russian Embassy in London issued a formal diplomatic warning on August 18, 2026, accusing the UK of deliberate escalation and threatening "serious consequences" for which British authorities would have to answer, according to the Kyiv Post.
According to local video reports and social media coverage, the broader Ukrainian campaign has also targeted critical logistics hubs deeper inside Russia, including a railway fuel tank explosion in the Orenburg district attributed to the "Budenov" sabotage detachment, and the temporary shutdown of the Zapib Nefaim LLC petrochemical enterprise in Tobolsk following an August 10 strike.
While the public disclosure of these operations occurred in August, Ukrainian military sources revealed that British-made drones have actually been actively deployed for deep strikes inside Russia for the prior six months, as reported by The Times.
Technical specifications published by BAE Systems list the Nyan drone as a "One Way Effector" with a wingspan of 2.9 meters and a maximum flight range of approximately 150 miles (240 km). Because targets like Yaroslavl and Volgograd lie more than 300 miles from the Ukrainian border, military analysts noted that the deepest strikes likely relied on a second, unnamed British drone with a range exceeding 600 miles, as reported by Militarnyi.
Ukrainian military officials emphasized that Western-supplied platforms represent only a supplementary capability, with the vast majority of long-range strikes continuing to rely on domestically produced Ukrainian drones, according to Euromaidan Press.
The British government has maintained its policy of supporting Ukraine's right to self-defense against Russian aggression, though officials have declined to comment publicly on the specific launch locations or operational planning of the drone flights, according to The Guardian.