Britain 'directly involved' in Ukraine war, Russian ambassador tells Sky News

Britain is present "directly involved" successful the Ukraine warfare aft its Storm Shadow missiles were utilized to onslaught targets wrong Russia, according to Moscow's ambassador.

Speaking to Sky News' Mark Austin, Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin besides accused Ukraine of utilizing mercenaries from antithetic countries successful the fighting.

It comes aft Western allies green-lit Ukraine's usage of long-distance missiles to onslaught heavy into Russia this week pursuing months of requests from Kyiv.

War latest: Follow unrecorded updates

British Storm Shadow missiles were fired into Russia by Ukraine conscionable days aft US President Joe Biden authorised the aforesaid argumentation shift.

'Britain is present straight progressive successful this war'

In airy of the move, Mr Kelin, erstwhile asked if the determination had dragged Britain into the war, said: "Absolutely, Britain and UK is present straight progressive successful this war, due to the fact that this firing cannot hap without NATO staff, British unit arsenic well."

Asked what the quality was betwixt that and Russia utilizing Chinese, Iranian and North Korean equipment, exertion and manpower - and whether they were straight progressive excessively - Mr Kelin alternatively pointed to overseas fighters connected the Ukrainian side.

"On that subject, I tin accidental easy that we person plentifulness of mercenaries from antithetic countries that are warring close present connected the broadside of Ukraine," helium said.

Mr Kelin continued: "We conscionable person seen successful the Kursk country of the Polish unit, which has a peculiar azygous worn by Polish soldiers. So what's the matter?"

Until this week, the UK said that British tanks, anti-tank missiles and different subject instrumentality could beryllium utilized wrong Russia, but had kept restrictions connected long-range missiles - echoing America's policy.

It isn't wide however large an effect the determination volition person connected the warfare going forward, with warring continuing successful the eastbound of Ukraine and successful Russia's Kursk region.

Russia attacks Ukraine with ballistic rocket - reports

On Thursday, unconfirmed reports emerged that the Kremlin had fired an intercontinental ballistic rocket (ICBM) into Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the onslaught had the "characteristics" of a ICBM.

He added: "Today, our brainsick neighbour has erstwhile again shown what helium truly is and however helium despises dignity, freedom, and quality beingness successful general.

"He is truthful acrophobic that helium is already utilizing caller missiles."

An probe is nether mode to corroborate the benignant of missile, helium added.

A spokesperson for the British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said reports of the missile's usage were "deeply concerning".

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'We are not commenting connected rocket strike'

During a unrecorded briefing, a spokesperson for the Russian overseas ministry received a telephone and was told not to remark connected reports of the Moscow-fired missiles, according to a video of the property conference.

While answering questions astatine a play briefing, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was phoned by a antheral who utilized the informal "Mash" alternatively of Maria.

He told her not to remark connected ballistic missiles.

"Yes, hello," Ms Zakharova said, according to the signaling of the briefing.

"Mash," said the man, who was not identified.

"Yes, I americium astatine a briefing," Ms Zakharova said.

"About the ballistic rocket onslaught connected Yuzhmash (rocket institution Pivdenmash) that the Western media are talking about, we are not commenting astatine all," the antheral said.