RUSSIA has warned the Britain that weapons supplied to Ukraine will be a “legitimate targets”.
The threat has come from the country’s UK ambassador who has also accused Britain of escalating the war by supplying Kyiv with weapons.
8
8
8
8
The UK has already sent thousands of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has agreed to send more after a conference held by military donors to the country.
“All arms supplies are destabilizing, particularly those mentioned by Wallace,”said Ambassador Andrey Kelin
They exacerbate the situation, making it even bloodier. Apparently, those are new, high-precision weapons.
“Naturally, our armed forces will view them as a legitimate target if those supplies get through the Ukrainian border.”
It comes after helicopter has been blasted out of the sky by Ukrainian forces using a British missile for the first time.
Dramatic footage shows the moment the Mi-28N is hit by the Starstreak in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
The Starstreak is the world’s fastest surface-to-air missile and can travel at three time the speed of sound.
Ministry of Defence sources said it’s the first time the missile has been used to bring down a Russian plane.
In the video, the chopper can be seen skimming the treetops before it’s hit in the tail by the Starstreak.
The missile can be seen lifting off through the trees towards its target.
The rear part of the helicopter then bursts into flames and comes of as the helicopter plummets to earth.
Other footage shows the aircraft wreckage strewn across a road as it’s inspected by Ukrainian troops.
The two crew on board the helicopter were reported to have survived being shot down though it’s unclear if they were captured by the Ukrainians.
Defence sources who examined the video of the Russian helicopter coming down reportedly believe it was as a result of a Starstreak.
It comes as….
Britain announced on March 9 that it was supplying the high velocity portable missiles to the Ukrainians.
The Belfast-made missiles can be shoulder-mounted or attached to a vehicle and each missile one splits into three darts to puncture armour before warheads detonate.
The Starstreak is not a “fire and forget” system like other anti-aircraft missiles.
Most read in News
The darts are guided to targets by an operator on the ground but this making it difficult for the enemy to deploy counter measures.
Ukrainian troops have been training with Britain’s best Starstreak operators at a secret location in a neighbouring country.
The intensive training was aimed at getting them ready to use the missiles in combat with a two to three weeks intensive course.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has previously said the Starstreak system was ready to be used imminently.
He told last night told Sky News: “There will be more lethal aid going into Ukraine.
“Ukraine needs longer-range artillery and that’s because of what the Russian army has been doing, which is now digging in and starting to pound these cities with artillery.
“The best counter to that is other long-range artillery, so [Ukraine will] be looking for and getting more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly.
‘They are also looking for armoured vehicles of some types — not tanks necessarily, but certainly protective vehicles, and more anti-air [weapons].
“All of this will be forthcoming as a result of this conference.”
Britain recently said it would ship another 6,000 anti-tank missiles and explosive weapons to Ukraine to help “keep the flame of freedom alive”.
Boris Johnson vowed to bolster defensive lethal aid to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces — including NLAW tank busters.
The latest shipment of weapons means Britain has more than doubled its total sent there to 10,000 just days after Ukraine warned it was fast running out.
The UK has already given 4,000 anti-tank artillery — including Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons Systems, or NLAWs, and Javelin missiles.
8
8
8
Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund
PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.
Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun’s Ukraine Fund.
Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.
Donate here to help The Sun’s fund
Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles
£3 — text SUN£3
£5 — text SUN£5
£10 — text SUN£10
Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit redcross.org.uk/mobile
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis.
In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.
For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund
