Ukraine has fired UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia for the first time, British media reported, citing foreign sources, BNR reported.
Reports of the missile strikes come after Ukraine received permission from Washington to fire US-supplied long-range missiles into Russian territory. The footage was posted on Telegram, with the comment that it shows the remains of one of the missiles fired at a target in Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
However, the British government declined to comment on the reports for what it said were operational reasons, but officials confirmed that Defense Secretary John Healey had spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday night.
As the BBC has commented, ministers are likely to be very cautious in their response to the reports, due to concerns about a Russian reaction and to ensure that the move is not seen as initiated by the UK. Earlier in Parliament, John Healy said: “Ukraine's actions on the battlefield speak for themselves“.
Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also refused to confirm that his country had used Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory, but indicated that it "uses all means to defend its country".
Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman, also did not comment on the use of the UK-supplied missiles or whether the US was providing navigational assistance for their use.