Russia has summoned the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and France after a Ukrainian missile strike using Storm Shadow cruise missiles hit a strategic facility inside Russian territory, escalating diplomatic tensions linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The move followed a Ukrainian attack on the Kremniy El microelectronics plant in Russia’s Bryansk region, a facility believed to produce key electronic components used in Russian missile systems.

Ukrainian military officials said the strike was part of an ongoing campaign to weaken Russia’s military-industrial capacity, reporting that the attack caused significant damage to production facilities.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the operation used Storm Shadow missiles—long-range precision weapons jointly produced by Britain and France.

These air-launched cruise missiles allow Ukrainian forces to strike targets far behind the front lines, with a range exceeding two hundred kilometres and the ability to evade air defences.

Russian officials condemned the strike and announced that British and French envoys had been called to the foreign ministry for formal consultations.

Moscow argued that the use of the Western-supplied weapons indicated the involvement of those governments in attacks on Russian territory and warned that such actions could deepen the conflict.

Regional authorities in Bryansk reported casualties and damage following the strike, with several people killed and dozens injured.

Local officials said emergency services were deployed to the site as investigators assessed the impact on the facility and surrounding infrastructure.

The incident comes at a moment of heightened sensitivity in the war, as diplomatic discussions about potential negotiations remain stalled.

Russian representatives have argued that attacks inside the country could undermine any effort to reopen talks, while Ukraine has maintained that strikes against military-industrial targets are aimed at limiting Russia’s capacity to continue its offensive operations.

Storm Shadow missiles have played a significant role in Ukraine’s strategy of long-range precision attacks.

Supplied by the United Kingdom and France, the weapons have previously been used to strike infrastructure connected to Russia’s war effort, including military bases, industrial plants, and logistical hubs.

The latest strike and the subsequent diplomatic protest underscore how the conflict continues to expand beyond the front lines, drawing in the political and military involvement of outside powers while intensifying tensions between Moscow and Western governments.