Were they British missiles?
Behind the front – cruise missiles hit occupied Luhansk
05/12/2023, 10:35 p.m
Two missiles hit the Russian-occupied regional capital, Luhansk. Observers suspect that the missiles could be British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Because the city is about 100 kilometers away from the front line.
Representatives of the Russian-installed government in eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region have accused the Ukrainian military of using two missiles to attack an industrial complex about 100 kilometers behind the front line. Videos circulated online show clouds of black smoke over parts of Luhansk, the capital of the region of the same name.
So far, Western Ukraine has provided only short-range missiles. Observers speculate that the Ukrainians may have used long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles first supplied by Britain. The manufacturer said that the air-launched missiles, jointly developed by Great Britain and France, have a range of more than 250 kilometers. This would allow them access to destinations in Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula, which has been annexed by Russia. HIMARS multiple rocket launchers of the American type, which Ukraine has successfully used, can hit targets 80 kilometers away. This makes the HIMARS system unlikely to be used.
Britain confirmed the delivery of the missiles to Ukraine on Thursday. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in Parliament that this gives Ukraine the best chance on defence. We help Ukrainians to defend their homeland. Wallace said the missiles enabled Ukraine to expel Russian forces from its territory.
“I think this is a measured and appropriate response to the Russian escalation,” he added. Britain will not stand by while Russia kills civilians. Wallace did not say whether Ukraine actually received the weapons. The US station CNN had reported earlier that Britain had already delivered several missiles.
