Ukraine fires UK missiles into Russia for the first time: UK missiles used by Ukraine in Russia

Storm Shadow missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain are believed to have used in Russia for the first time, in a move that raises the UK's stakes in the war.

Wreckage from one of the long-range weapons has been found in Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, it has been reported.

Storm Shadow's use in Russia comes a day after Moscow said American long-range weapons had been fired into its territory.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, after US president Joe Biden gave Kyiv permission to fire US ATACMS long-range

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FROM PAGE ONE missiles into Russia.

Downing Street would not comment on the reports, but UK defence secretary John Healey said "Ukraine's action on the battlefield speaks for itself ".

Number 10 has previously refused to comment on any changes in policy about allowing Kyiv to use long-range missiles in Russia.

The use of Storm Shadow missiles comes as it was separately announced two former Royal Navy flagships, a frigate and a pair of support tankers would be decommissioned by the UK in cost-saving measures. The savings, which Mr Healey blamed on the "dire inheritance" left by the Tories, will see assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, which have both been flagships, decommissioned. The army's Watchkeeper drones, which cost around £5 million each and have been in service for a decade, but have been beset by problems and are effectively obsolete, will be grounded.

Mr Healey acknowledged the cuts came at a time of "war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, conflict in the Middle East and technology changing the nature of warfare", but said that showed the need for "increased resilience and readiness for the future".

Mr Healey had earlier told

MPs he had spoken with his counterpart in Kyiv on Tuesday where they discussed the UK's plan to support Ukraine.

The defence secretary told the Commons yesterday: "We've seen over recent weeks significant change in the action and in the rhetoric on Ukraine, and Ukraine's action on the battlefield speaks for itself.

"We as a nation and as a government are doubling down on our support for Ukraine and determined to do more. I discussed this with [Ukrainian] minister [Rustem] Umerov in a call yesterday where he talked about the robust response that Ukraine is making to recent Russian escalations."

First Minister John Swinney said he hoped the use of USsupplied missiles, in particular, would force "President Putin to do what he should do, which is to withdraw from Ukraine and allow Ukraine to take its own course".

Earlier yesterday, the US closed its embassy in Kyiv because of a "potential significant air attack" by Mr Putin's forces.

The closure of the US embassy follows the first use of American-supplied missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia.

The British embassy in Ukraine remains open despite the US decision and the UK government said it was continuing to monitor the situa- tion in Kyiv.

The US state department said it had received "specific information of a potential significant air attack on November 20" and "out of an abundance of caution, the embassy will be closed, and embassy employees are being instructed to shelter in place".

The Foreign Office said the UK embassy was open but the safety of staff and British nationals was of "paramount" importance and the posture and travel advice would be kept under review.

The embassy in Kyiv has been operating a limited diplomatic function in recent months and not providing in-person consular assistance.

We are doubling down on our support for Ukraine Defence Secretary John Healey

CREDIT: David Lynch