Kremlin Warns Western Missile Plants in Ukraine Would Be ‘Legitimate Targets’
Moscow says any German, British or French long-range weapons factories set up on Ukrainian soil would be treated as legitimate targets for Russian forces, after reports of Western plans to start production in Ukraine. The warning spotlights the risks for any future missile plants and for nearby communities.
Russia is warning that any Western-built long-range weapons factories in Ukraine would be treated as targets, directly threatening potential sites for deeper defense cooperation between Kyiv and its partners.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is reviewing reports that Germany, the UK and France plan to set up long-range ballistic missile production in Ukraine. He stated that any such production facilities would be considered legitimate targets for Russian forces.
Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, has separately argued that NATO is interested in prolonging the war in Ukraine and has described a real risk of a large-scale conflict across the Eurasian region. His comments frame Western support for Ukrainian arms production as part of a wider confrontation.
If Western-backed missile plants are built, they would bring industrial jobs and advanced technology to Ukraine, but also make surrounding areas potential strike zones. Any attack on such facilities could endanger factory workers and civilians who live and work nearby, since modern arms plants often handle hazardous materials and complex equipment.
Local production of long-range weapons would shorten Ukraine’s supply lines compared with importing systems from abroad, and could reduce Kyiv’s dependence on each new delivery decision in Western capitals. At the same time, it would give Russia additional fixed, high-value targets inside Ukraine, creating new pressures on Ukrainian air defenses.
For European governments, placing sensitive production inside a country under regular Russian fire would deepen their material commitment without sending troops into combat. For Moscow, these plants would be part of a broader target set that already includes Ukrainian defense factories and energy sites, but with the added political weight of being openly linked to Germany, the UK or France.
What matters next is whether any of the three countries confirm concrete projects, locations or timelines for missile production in Ukraine. Indicators to watch include public announcements by governments or defense companies, Ukrainian legislation or agreements enabling foreign-owned arms plants, and further Russian statements that single out specific regions or facilities for possible strikes.
Sources
- OSINT