Kremlin breaks silence on new PM Andy Burnham with attack over Ukraine after Russian warship’s live fire drills near UK

THE KREMLIN has broken its silence and slammed new PM Andy Burnham, accusing him of “doing everything possible to continue the war” in Ukraine. It comes after a Russian warship carried out live-fire drills just 40 nautical miles off the coast of Britain yesterday. Russian warship Neutrashimyy carried out live-fire drills just 40 nautical miles off the coast of Britain yesterday Credit: Wiki Commons The Russian frigate was being shadowed by Royal Navy vessel the HMS Iron Duke Credit: PA Peskov accused Andy Burnham of ‘doing everything possible to continue the war’ in Ukraine Credit: East2west News Vladimir Putin said he no intention of talking to the UK’s new PM Andy Burnham any time soon Credit: Getty The Russians staged the exercise on Burnham‘s first day in office. Vladimir Putin said he had no intention of talking to the UK’s new leader any time soon. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! And Mad Vlad’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov defended the actions of the Russian frigate that opened fire off the coast of Plymouth on Monday. Warship Neustrashimy has been escorting Russian shadow fleet tankers through the English Channel. The frigate was being shadowed by a Royal Navy vessel HMS Iron Duke and its activity is still being tracked “closely”. A French military aircraft was also tracking the warship and asked it to clarify its intentions. The Russian warship told the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS Tyne, that it intended to fire rounds and asked the vessel to move to a safe distance. HMS Tyne was shadowing the Russian warship and was asked to move to a safe distance Credit: Getty The gunnery activity lasted for 30 minutes in international waters. Most read in The Sun A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “A Russian naval vessel shadowed by the Royal Navy conducted a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters approximately 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth yesterday. “The Royal Navy monitored that exercise throughout, continues to track the vessel’s activity closely, and stands ready to protect UK national security.” Kremlin spokesman Peskov claimed: “All actions by our warships are carried out in strict compliance with international law and the law of the sea. “Therefore, there’s no need to read any hints here. “However, of course, with the arrival of the new UK Prime Minister, one of his first actions was to declare unconditional support for Ukraine, and, accordingly, the UK’s intention to continue doing everything possible to continue the war.” The PM and his newly-appointed defence secretary Wes Streeting will have to deal with the ongoing aggression from Russia as activity in UK waters increases. Burnham spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on his first day as PM. And the Ukrainian president made it clear the pair would meet in the “near future”. He said: “I greatly appreciate that support for Ukraine and our people will continue to be strong.” “Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Britain!” It comes after British commandos dramatically stormed a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in June, in a first-of-its-kind mission. Also in June, a British yacht was shot at by a huge Russian warship 20 miles off the Isle of Wight in a terrifying Channel showdown. And ealier this month a Russian spy plane swooped dangerously over Britain’s flagship aircraft carrier and dropped tracking buoys in nearby waters. RAF fighter jets intercepted the Bear-F spy plane after it “repeatedly approached” the HMS Prince of Wales in a high seas showdown off Norway. Comment now