Russia said Monday it had intercepted and shot down a long-range Storm Shadow missile in the conflict in Ukraine, just days after London announced it would supply such weapons to Kiev’s armed forces.
“[Nas últimas 24 horas]air defense systems intercepted seven HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile and 10 projectiles fired by multiple HIMAR missile launchers,” the Russian defense ministry said in a statement signed by ministerial spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
Authorities imposed by Russia in the Ukrainian region of Lugansk, annexed by the Kremlin in September 2022, said on Saturday that Ukrainian forces have used at least two Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of more than 250 kilometers, to strike the eastern province. to attack. last Friday.
The Lugansk office of the “Joint Center for Control and Coordination of War Crimes Issues in Ukraine” said on Monday that Ukrainian forces had launched an attack on the region in the morning with two Storm Shadow missiles, without giving details of the second missile. . .
This Monday, after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who traveled to London, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned Russia that he will continue to provide long-term militarily support to Ukraine.
Responding to Russia, which on Monday criticized Britain’s supply of more weapons to Ukraine and warned it would cause “even more destruction”, Sunak promised that “there will be more support in the future”.
“I think it is important for the Kremlin to know that we will not back down. We are here for the long haul. We remain steadfast in defending Ukraine, not only now to regain its rightful territory, but also to ensure that Ukraine will have the means to defend itself in the future,” the British ruler told a group of journalists at the Checkers Court mansion, some 60 kilometers from London.
In terms of military equipment alone, London, an early supporter of Ukraine, is Kiev’s second largest supplier, with £4.6 billion (5.3 billion euros) in aid provided or promised for 2022-2023.
The United Kingdom supplied anti-tank missiles, artillery weapons, air defense systems and armored fighting vehicles. It also supplied British Challenger tanks to Ukraine and trained Ukrainian soldiers to operate them.
The two leaders met about three hours after Zelensky’s unexpected visit to the UK this Monday morning to meet “friend Rishi”.
The Ukrainian leader stressed the importance of the British in expanding Kiev’s military capabilities.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24 last year, plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
