Russia has warned it could strike British military targets over the UK’s support for Ukraine.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson told the UK to back off on what she called London’s hostile stance on the war, which she said risked taking the conflict to an entirely new level.

Maria Zakharova told the same Moscow news briefing earlier that Britain and France were “playing with fire” by supplying sensitive missile technology to Ukraine.

But the Ministry of Defence has hit back, saying Russia “should be in no doubt about the resolve of this government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies.”

Britain announced on Monday it would allow Kyiv access to classified technology to start its own production of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, capable of carrying out strikes deep within Russia. France has already given its assent to licence the technology for the European missile.

That decision has drawn strong condemnation from Russia, with president Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying it would add “fuel to the fire” of the conflict.

But Andy Burnham told reporters in Kyiv during a visit earlier this week: “Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it?”

Russian intervention comes as tensions between the Kremlin and Downing Street continue to escalate, a week after Russia’s embassy in the UK said reports that Ukrainian forces had used unmanned aircraft manufactured by two UK companies “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis”.

But former ministers have said Mr Burnham must not flinch in the face of the threats.

Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind told The Independent: “This is probably usual sabre-rattling from Russia.

Read More: Russia threatens to bomb UK military bases over support for Ukraine