Russia suffers new attack in suspected strike by British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles
Russia suffers fresh attack after suspected attack by British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles
- Early reports said the aviation school housed a contingent of Putin’s troops
- Twin explosions sounded around 8 a.m. local time in the makeshift barracks
Russian forces suffered a major new attack early today in the occupied Ukrainian city of Luhansk, believed to have used newly delivered long-range British Storm Shadow missiles.
Early reports said the target was a former aviation school believed to house a contingent of Putin’s troops.
Two explosions rang out at the makeshift barracks at 8 a.m. local time, with videos from the aftermath of the strike showing the building ablaze and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
Windows in nearby residential buildings were said to have been shattered by the intensity of the blast’s shock wave.
There was no immediate information about casualties.
The aftermath of an early morning strike at a Russian barracks in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region is seen on the horizon
Britain recently sent a shipment of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, allowing Kiev’s troops to strike deeper into Russian-held territory
Pro-Russian military expert Andrey Marochko suspected the attack was carried out with a Storm Shadow missile
Witnesses reported the sound of a plane, then rumbles and explosions.
Luhansk People’s Republic official Rodion Miroshnik suggested the target was the former aviation school, while pro-Russian military expert Andrey Marochko, a retired lieutenant colonel, said he suspected Storm Shadow missiles had been used.
The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to more than 150 miles, allow Ukrainian troops to get deeper into Russian-held territory than before, and will play a key role in the country’s long-awaited counter-offensive against its occupiers.
On Friday, the missiles supplied by the British were used to hit the former academy of the Interior Ministry and the Polipak machine-building plant in Luhansk.
Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky, 65, suffered minor injuries in the strikes.
At least two Russian fighter jets and two military helicopters were downed on Saturday in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, in one of the worst days for Vladimir Putin’s air force.
Accounts were divided as to whether the planes were shot down by Ukrainian strikes, or friendly fire by Russian air defenses, or even by sabotage.
The Storm Shadow missiles, accurate to more than 150 miles, enable Ukrainian troops to get deeper into Russian-held territory than before. Pictured: a Eurofighter jet carrying two Storm Shadow missiles
On Friday, missiles supplied by the British were used to hit the Polipak engineering plant in Luhansk
Pro-Putin Russian MP Viktor Vodolatsky, 65, suffered minor injuries in the strikes.
A pair of Russian Mi-8 helicopters were shot down over Russia’s Bryansk region, close to the Ukrainian border, on Saturday
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky flew into the UK this morning to meet Rishi Sunak ahead of a ‘critical’ week in the fight against Russia.
The Ukrainian president has arrived for a surprise visit during which he will conduct “substantial negotiations” with the prime minister at his country residence in Checkers.
Zelensky was in Paris yesterday for talks with Emmanuel Macron following a summit with EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Aachen over the weekend.
Sunak will push for more support for Kiev when he attends the G7 Japan and Council of Europe meeting in Reykjavik later this week.
The prime minister vowed to send a “message of solidarity” as Ukraine tries to kick out Putin’s invading forces, saying it is in “all of our interests” that Zelensky succeed.
The talks came after the UK became the first country to deliver long-range precision missiles to Ukraine.