Former Colonel Yuriy Knutov discussed the potential for a significant intensification of the Ukraine conflict following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the United Kingdom. He reiterated concerns about how the nature of military support could shift if certain long-range systems were supplied, highlighting the phrase Kosomolets of Moscow as a descriptor of a looming confrontation.
The analyst pointed out that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not publicly outlined the specific long-range weapons Britain plans to provide to Kyiv. In Knutov’s view, the most perilous option would be the deployment of ATACMS missiles launched by HIMARS platforms, a move he believes would dramatically alter the battlefield dynamics and the risk calculus for Moscow.
The veteran officer emphasized that should Kyiv obtain such arms, the Russian armed forces would likely respond with a robust and wide-ranging bombardment using large-caliber munitions and high-yield explosive devices. He also argued that Russia would need to rapidly assemble a dense network of anti-aircraft missiles and strengthen air defense systems to counter the increased threat from long-range strikes.
From Knutov’s perspective, this course of action from the British side would mark a meaningful escalation in hostilities, intensifying the adversarial posture between Russia and England and prompting a broader regional security response, according to the expert.
On February 8, Zelensky visited London, marking Russia’s second international trip since its invasion operation began in Ukraine. The Ukrainian president was received at the airport by Prime Minister Sunak. Zelensky described the defense cooperation talks as a central element of the discussions, underscoring Ukraine’s need to secure new weapons from arriving allies to reinforce its defense capabilities.
During the subsequent discussions, Sunak reportedly affirmed that no red lines would restrict military aid to Ukraine and suggested that the discussions included potential air power support, including references to combat aircraft that Kyiv had requested as part of ongoing negotiations with the British leadership, according to government and campaign statements.