Putin 'will attack Gibraltar and the Falklands' if British weapons are used by Ukraine in Russian territory

Zakharova was echoing concerns first issued earlier this month after Lord David Cameron said Kyiv had a right to use weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

Moscow was outraged by the Foreign Secretary’s comments and responded by holding exercises to simulate the launch of tactical nuclear missiles.

The latest threat would appear to include a number of Overseas Territories, including Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

The UK has pledged £12.5billion in support to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022, the House of Commons Library has claimed.

Britain is also hosting a training programme, dubbed Operation Interflex, with the support of a number of allies.

Putin was already reportedly eyeing up the Falkland Islands due to a “mind-boggling” quantity of oil found in the region.

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Dr Chris Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, told Express.co.uk: "That’s obviously a quite mind-boggling amount.

"There's just too much for it to be left down there.

"Argentina owes $40 million to the IMF, and there is a vast reserve essentially in its back yard."

He added: "Russia will continue to challenge the rules-based order and will seek to cause chaos but unlike China, it doesn't really have the resources to drill.

"The Falklands is a potential flashpoint, although Javier Milei has been a lot more conciliatory about that than the previous Peronist regime."

Anglo-Russian relations reached a new low last month after two men were charged with helping with Kremlin intelligence.

Dylan Earl, 20, from Elmesthorpe in Leicestershire, and Jake Reeves, 22, from Croydon in London, were investigated following a fire at a warehouse in March.

The prosecution case claimed that the Wagner Group enlisted both men's support on UK soil.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin following the allegations.

An FCDO spokesperson said the UK remains "deeply concerned by allegations of Russian-orchestrated malign activity on UK soil".

They added: "We will continue to work with our allies to deter and defend against the full spectrum of threats that emanate from Russia."