Ukraine prepared to use British missiles to strike CrimeaThe Times/UK, Feb 10, 2023
Ukraine is prepared to use British long-range missiles to hit Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, in a potential major escalation of western involvement in the war.
Rishi Sunak promised to send Ukraine more military aid following a visit by President Zelensky to Britain this week. Discussions are now taking place over whether this should include Harpoon anti-ship missiles or air-to-surface Storm Shadows.
Ukrainian defence sources confirmed to The Times that Kyiv would be prepared to use the missiles to strike Crimea following a warning from Zelensky that longer-range weapons from western allies would strike “deep in the occupied territories”.
[...]
Zelensky met European parliamentarians in Brussels yesterday, where he renewed demands for fighter jets as Russia appeared to launch a long-anticipated offensive in eastern Ukraine. “We are defending against the most anti-European force of the modern world,” Zelensky said. “We are defending ourselves — we Ukrainians on the battlefield — along with you.”
Harpoon missiles cost about £1.2 million each and have a maximum range of 150 miles. Storm Shadow missiles cost about £2.2 million and can fire at targets as far as 350 miles away, although modified versions for export have a significantly shorter range.
More:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4ff5c732-a8ba-11ed-9c9b-9439987f775c?shareToken=70b3b681340048e17c31e46a89da4fbf
