Ukraine has fired UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time, in response to the deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean troops on Russia’s border with Ukraine. The decision to use these missiles was approved after the US president agreed to do the same for a similar American weapon. It is unclear what the missiles targeted, but unconfirmed images suggest they hit the Kursk region.
The strike came after Ukraine used US-supplied missiles to target the Bryansk region, aiming at the North Korean buildup in the region. Western officials are pointing towards infrastructure that may be used for a 50,000-strong offensive against Ukraine. Both US and UK-made missiles used in Russia have raised concerns about escalating the conflict with Moscow.
Ukraine’s use of American-supplied anti-personnel land mines has also been confirmed, despite the weapons being banned by many countries including the UK. The US defense secretary stated that the change in policy was necessary as Russian ground troops are leading the battlefield, and Ukraine needs tools to slow down their efforts.
Amidst reports of a potential large-scale attack, US, Italy, Spain, and Greece have closed their embassies in Kyiv. Ukraine’s intelligence agency has accused Russia of spreading fake information to create panic. Air alerts have been declared in Kyiv, and heightened alertness prevails due to the closure of embassies and information about impending attacks.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
