In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Moscow’s UK ambassador said the use of Storm Shadow missiles means Britain is now "directly involved" in the war.
It comes as Downing Street said Vladimir Putin had stooped to “depraved” levels after Russia unleashed a suspected nuclear-capable rocket into Ukraine.
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Horrifying footage has emerged of what officials in Kyiv said were warheads from an intercontinental ballistic missile raining down over the city of Dnipro.
Sir Keir Starmer said if an ICBM was used in the blitz it would be “another example of depraved, reckless and escalatory behaviour from Russia”.
The Kremlin has also warned it plans to “neutralise” a US missile base in Poland, in a further escalation.
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The Russian Ambassador to the UK has told Sky News 'the UK is now directly involved in this war'
Andrei Kelin told Sky's @MarkAustinTV that the war 'could not be happening' without NATO and British involvementhttps://t.co/CJoe2NROXQ pic.twitter.com/I32tJaWwzx
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 21, 2024
Russia’s UK ambassador Andrei Kelin suggested the Ukraine war was now a wider conflict.
Asked by Sky News if the use of Storm Shadow’s had dragged Britain into the war, he said: "Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well."
Asked what the difference was between that and Russia using Chinese, Iranian and North Korean equipment, technology and manpower - and whether they were directly involved too - Mr Kelin instead pointed to foreign fighters on the Ukrainian side.
"On that subject, I can say easily that we have plenty of mercenaries from different countries that are fighting right now on the side of Ukraine," he said.
Moscow has refused to confirm or deny whether it fired an ICBM, which would be the first time that the extremely powerful and quick long-range weapons have ever been used in a war.
Some Western analysts have cast doubt on whether one was, partly as the RS-26 Rubezh missile was mothballed by the Russians in 2018.
The RS-26, which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, has not been used in combat before, according to Western missile experts.
It is said to fly at five times the speed of sound, making it harder for Kyiv’s US-supplied Patriot missile systems to shoot down.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that the Baltic coast missile defence base in Redzikowo is in the Kremlin’s crosshairs.
“Given the level of threats posed by such Western military facilities, the missile defence base in Poland has long been included among the priority targets for potential neutralisation,” she said.
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The base was opened on Nov 13 and forms part of the broader Nato missile shield, which the alliance says can intercept short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
It comes as John Healey said Ukraine faces a “serious moment” in its defence against the Russian invasion.
But the Defence Secretary refused to confirm reports the wartorn nation has launched British-supplied long-range missiles at Russia.
Russia’s military said it has shot down two Storm Shadow missiles on Wednesday, following reports that debris from the weapons had been discovered in the country’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.
The Prime Minister has meanwhile insisted UK support for Ukraine is “always for self-defence” and compliant with international law, as he accused Putin of wanting “destruction not peace”.
Asked to confirm reports Mr Healey told the Defence Select committee: “I won’t be drawn on the operational details of the conflict.
“It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin.”
Battle lines in Ukraine are now “less stable than at any time since the early days of the full scale Russian invasion”, Mr Healey said.
Speaking at the same time, Sir Keir told the House of Commons the UK “will not be deterred or distracted by reckless threats”, in reference to Putin lowering the threshold for using his nuclear arsenal.
This was widely seen as a response to Mr Biden’s announcement he would give Ukraine permission to use US-made long-range ATACMS missiles.
Downing Street later described the unconfirmed reports Russia had launched an ICBM into Ukraine as “deeply concerning”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “If true, clearly this would be another example of depraved, reckless and escalatory behaviour from Russia and only serves to strengthen our resolve.”
During the committee hearing Mr Healey said the UK’s military capabilities are “just not good enough” as he defended ￡500 million of cuts.
He has announced that a series of projects would be scrapped in a bid to save money.
Five warships and 70 military aircraft will be scrapped in the biggest kit losses for 30 years.
A frigate, two assault ships and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers are also being scrapped.
Some 31 helicopters and 41 drones are also being axed to free up cash for modern weapons.
But the move has been branded “bonkers” as tensions reach boiling point with Russia.
Ex-Nato Commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon fumed: “My expert sense is rather strangely that it’s f****** bonkers
“We’re as close as we’ve been to war with Russia since the Second World War and we announce a half-billion cut in our conventional defence.
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“It was the lack of conventional defence that encouraged Putin to invade Ukraine in the first place.”
Reform UK MP Richard Tice said: “The timing of the announcement is very unwise when aiming to show strength against Russia”.