Russia-Ukraine war live: Kremlin suggests BAE System’s Ukraine entity could be a target for Russian military

Kremlin suggests BAE Systems’ Ukraine entity could be target for Russian military

The Kremlin said it saw BAE Systems opening a local entity in Ukraine “negatively”, and that any production facilities producing weapons used against Russia would become targets for Moscow’s military, Reuters reports.

Asked about the move in a call with reporters, the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said:

Of course, any facilities for the production of weapons, especially if these weapons fire at us, they become objects of special attention for our military.

BAE has said it would work directly with Kyiv to explore potential partners for a plan to ultimately produce 105mm light artillery guns in Ukraine and to better understand Ukraine’s requirements.

As the UK’s biggest defence contractor, BAE has manufactured much of the equipment that Britain and other governments have provided to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion.

BAE, which has benefited from increased defence spending as a result of the conflict, is already providing training and repair services to Ukraine’s armed forces.