The Times: Kyiv is ready to use British missiles to strike Crimea
Ukraine is ready to launch British long-range missiles at Russian positions in Crimea, which would mean a significant escalation of Western involvement in the conflict.
The British edition of The Times reported this on February 10.
According to the Times, discussions are underway in Downing Street about whether to provide Kyiv with such missiles, which would dramatically increase Western intervention in the armed conflict, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
London is discussing providing Ukrainian forces with Harpoon anti-ship missiles or Storm Shadows anti-aircraft missile systems. The information comes at a time when Ukrainian forces are preparing for the threat of a large-scale offensive from Russia in the coming days, the publication emphasizes.
Harpoon missiles have a maximum range of 150 miles, while Storm Shadow missiles can fire at targets up to 350 miles away, although modified versions for export have a significantly shorter range. Negotiations are currently underway to decide exactly how many British long-range missiles could be provided to Kyiv, despite previous concerns that allowing Ukraine to launch cross-border strikes on Russia could lead to an escalation of the conflict, the Times writes.
But in recent weeks, Western allies have softened their stance on sending offensive weapons and appear to have accepted Ukraine's argument that Crimea is occupied territory and a legitimate target.
Last week, US President Joe Biden effectively doubled the range of the Ukrainian army's weapons, including in the latest package of US support ground-launched small diameter bombs (GLSDBs), which can hit targets 93 miles away. After the transfer of smart bombs, Ukraine promised not to hit targets in Russia, but did not rule out striking Crimea.
Ukrainian Defense Ministry sources confirmed to the Times that Kyiv would be prepared to use missiles to strike Crimea after President Zelensky warned that longer-range weapons provided by Western allies would strike " far into the occupied territories ."
English version :: Read in English The Times: Kyiv is ready to use British missiles to strike Crimea