UK Warns OSCE of Escalation Risk From Russian Attacks

The Government of the United Kingdom warned the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) that continued Russian aerial bombardments of Ukraine are pushing regional security to the brink. Colonel Joby Rimmer, the UK Senior Military Adviser, stated that the risk of a wider European escalation is not theoretical.

To support this claim, Rimmer cited a massive assault on July 18–19, during which the Russian Federation launched 41 missiles and 125 drones, killing at least 20 civilians and damaging infrastructure in Kyiv. He also highlighted airspace violations involving Russian drones that struck an apartment building in Galați, Romania, on May 29 and exploded near Copanca, Moldova, on July 13.

In response to these threats, Rimmer called for stronger European air and missile defense and surveillance systems. He asserted that the most significant contribution Russia could make to European security would be to end its aggression and agree to an immediate ceasefire to achieve a lasting peace.