Moscow, 30 September, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Russia has warned that European arms factories producing weapons for Ukraine could be considered potential military targets, adding to tensions between Moscow and NATO as European governments expand defence manufacturing and continue military support for Kyiv.
Russia warns arms factories supplying Ukraine could be targeted
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the warning during a press briefing on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
“Factories in Europe producing arms for Ukraine are legitimate and potential military targets for Russia,” Zakharova said.
The statement came amid discussion over producing Patriot air-defence missiles in Poland for Ukraine. Warsaw has substantially expanded its defence capabilities and its domestic arms industry since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Russia did not identify a specific factory it intends to attack or announce an operation against a NATO member. The statement therefore represents a warning about facilities Moscow says it could regard as military targets rather than confirmation of an imminent strike.
Moscow says European military support deepens involvement
Russia argues that European weapons supplies, defence manufacturing and other military assistance to Kyiv increase European involvement in the war.
Zakharova told reporters that European countries were directly involved through their military support and said those activities were delaying a resolution to the conflict.
NATO rejects Moscow’s broader characterisation of the alliance as a party to the war. It describes itself as a defensive alliance while individual members continue providing military assistance to Ukraine.
NATO strengthens defence on its eastern flank
The Russian warning comes as NATO increases air and missile defences along its eastern flank.
On 29 September, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius in Brussels. NATO said the discussions covered eastern-flank security, drones and continued assistance to Ukraine.
“NATO defends every inch of Allied territory against any threat from any direction,” Rutte said.
He also pointed to an incident on 15 September in which Italian aircraft deployed by NATO from Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base shot down a drone that NATO said had violated Lithuanian airspace.
“This is collective defence in action,” Rutte said.
European defence production continues to expand
European governments have been expanding weapons production as they seek to replenish their own military inventories and maintain assistance for Ukraine.
The Russian warning places additional attention on the security of European arms factories, particularly facilities in NATO member states involved in ammunition, missile and other weapons production.
The issue is especially sensitive because NATO’s Article 5 establishes collective defence, under which an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.
What happens next?
European NATO members have given no indication that Moscow’s latest warning will halt their defence-production plans or military assistance to Ukraine. NATO is continuing to strengthen integrated air and missile defence and counter-drone capabilities.
Russia, meanwhile, is explicitly signalling that it views weapons manufacturing for Kyiv as part of the military infrastructure supporting Ukraine.
For now, Moscow has announced no specific attack against European arms factories. Any actual strike on a facility inside NATO territory would represent a significant escalation beyond the current geographical boundaries of the Russia-Ukraine war.
