A Russian general has made alarming claims on state TV, saying that if World War Three were to begin, Britain should be Russia’s number one target. Major-General Nikolay Plotnikov, a reservist and outspoken figure on Russian media, accused the UK of playing a major role in helping Ukraine successfully strike Russian targets with missiles and drones. He claimed that Britain has been supplying Ukraine with vital targeting information, which he says has led to many deaths and destruction within Russia.
Speaking on a popular Russian talk show, Plotnikov blamed a long list of British leaders—including Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak, and now Keir Starmer—for helping Ukraine defend itself and stall Vladimir Putin’s invasion. He argued that because the UK is giving Ukraine support and intelligence, the country should be treated as a legitimate enemy and targeted accordingly in the future. He even went as far as calling for Russian authorities to open criminal cases against these British politicians, saying they should all be prosecuted for aiding Ukraine.
According to Plotnikov, British and French intelligence are behind recent large-scale drone and missile attacks on Russian territory. One example he gave was the strike on May 7, where Russia claimed to have intercepted hundreds of drones, missiles, and other weapons. However, some still made it through and hit military targets. More attacks followed, including one in the Kursk region on May 11.
The tone of the show became even more aggressive when Vladimir Solovyov, one of Russia’s top state TV presenters and a known Putin ally, joined the conversation. Solovyov spoke openly about launching nuclear strikes on the UK using some of Russia’s deadliest weapons, like the Poseidon underwater atomic drone and the Sarmat intercontinental missile, also known as Satan-2. These weapons are capable of wiping out entire cities. Plotnikov didn’t reject the idea—instead, he said the time might come when such actions are taken.
This type of rhetoric isn’t new on Russian television, but it shows how far some officials and media figures are willing to go in blaming Britain and other Western allies for Russia’s failures in Ukraine. The statements highlight the ongoing tensions and the dangerous language being used to stir public opinion inside Russia. It also shows how figures like Solovyov are pushing the Kremlin’s narrative that Russia is the victim, even as they continue a brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.
