Putin’s use of long-range ballistic missiles an example of escalation – No 10

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dramatically escalated the warfare successful Ukraine by launching a long-range ballistic missile, Downing Street has signalled.

No 10 confirmed a ballistic rocket with a scope of respective 1000 kilometres had been fired connected the metropolis of Dnipro, aft reports from Ukraine astir a caller limb entering the arena of war.

Kyiv had initially said an intercontinental ballistic rocket (ICBM) had been launched, a assertion which Western officials formed uncertainty on.

The Prime Minister’s authoritative spokesperson was cautious not to usage this term, alternatively telling reporters: “My knowing is that it is the archetypal clip that Russia has utilized a ballistic rocket successful Ukraine with a scope of respective 1000 kilometres.”

No 10 said it was “easily an illustration of escalatory behaviour from Russia” erstwhile asked whether the Government believed the Kremlin had ramped up the struggle with the attack.

But the Prime Minister’s spokesperson added it “only serves to fortify our resoluteness and to guarantee that Ukraine has what it needs to enactment successful self-defence against Russia’s reckless and amerciable invasion”.

The missile’s scope acold outstrips that of recently authorised US and British supplied weapons which are reportedly present successful usage successful the war, arsenic Kyiv seeks to occurrence connected subject bases heavy successful Russian territory.

Russia’s subject claims it has changeable down 2 British-made Storm Shadow missiles, pursuing reports that debris from the weapons had been discovered successful the country’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine.

American-supplied ATACMS missiles person been fired astatine Russia pursuing authorisation by US President Joe Biden.

Defence Secretary John Healey earlier revealed to a committee of MPs that the UK had expected Russia to statesman utilizing long-range ballistic missiles for immoderate time.

“There are unconfirmed but media reports contiguous of Russia firing a caller ballistic rocket into Ukraine which we cognize they person been preparing for months,” helium said astatine the Commons Defence Committee.

Mr Healey had warned Ukraine faces a “serious moment” successful its defence against Mr Putin’s invasion, and refused to beryllium drawn into confirming reports the war-torn federation has launched British-supplied long-range missiles astatine its foe.

“It risks some operational information and successful the extremity the lone 1 that benefits from specified a nationalist statement is President Putin,” the Defence Secretary told MPs.

Battle lines successful Ukraine are present “less unchangeable than astatine immoderate clip since the aboriginal days of the full-scale Russian invasion”, Mr Healey said, citing British intelligence.

Speaking astatine the aforesaid time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the UK “will not beryllium deterred oregon distracted by reckless threats”, successful notation to Mr Putin lowering the threshold for utilizing his atomic arsenal.

This was wide seen arsenic a effect to Mr Biden’s announcement that helium would springiness Ukraine support to usage US-made long-range ATACMS missiles.

Sir Keir besides insisted that each the UK’s enactment for Kyiv was “in accordance with planetary law” and “always for self-defence”.