British training troops in Ukraine could be legitimate targets, says Russia's former President Medvedev

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev claimed on Sunday that British servicemen training Ukrainian military in Ukraine, as well as German companies building Taurus missiles, would be valid targets for Russian forces if they supplied Kyiv.

Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council and an increasingly hawkish and anti-Western figure in Russian politics, claimed the West’s actions were bringing World War Three closer.

Medvedev first took aim at recently appointed British Defence Minister Grant Shapps, who stated in a newspaper interview that London wants to deploy military instructors to Ukraine, in addition to training Ukrainian armed forces in the UK or other Western countries.

“(This will) turn their instructors into a legal target for our armed forces,” Medvedev wrote on Telegram. “Understanding perfectly well that they will be ruthlessly destroyed. And not as mercenaries, but namely as British NATO specialists.”

Medvedev then turned his focus to Germany, vilifying those who wanted Berlin to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles that could strike Russian territory and try to limit Moscow’s supply to its army.

“They say this is in accordance with international law. Well, in that case, strikes on German factories where these missiles are made would also be in full compliance with international law,” Medvedev said.

“These morons are actively pushing us towards World War Three,” Medvedev said.