Russia says Ukraine wants to attack Crimea with British missiles

Russia's defense minister has accused Ukraine of planning to attack Crimea with HIMARS artillery and Storm Shadow missiles, warning that Moscow will retaliate.

"According to our data, the command of the Ukrainian armed forces is planning to strike the territories of the Russian Federation, including the Crimean peninsula, with HIMARS rocket launchers and Storm Shadow missiles," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today.

Mr. Shoigu warned that Russia would immediately retaliate against Ukraine's decision-making centers if the above weapons were used outside the area of Moscow's operation.

This move means that the US and UK have fully entered the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to Mr. Shoigu. HIMARS and Storm Shadow are weapons that Washington and London respectively provide to Kiev to deal with Moscow.

Ukrainian officials have not commented on the Russian information. The Ukrainian government has repeatedly affirmed that the weapons provided by the West will only be used in fighting Russian forces on the Ukrainian battlefield, not against Russian territory.

Mr Shoigu also said that Ukrainian forces were using elite units trained by NATO and Western weapons to attack areas in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. "Since June 4, the Ukrainian army has launched 263 attacks on Russian positions. Russian forces have repelled all of them, the enemy has not achieved its goals," he said.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting in Moscow on December 21, 2022. Photo: AFP — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting in Moscow on December 21, 2022. Photo: *AFP*

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after a referendum in 2014. The US, the West and Ukraine called the move illegal. Kiev has repeatedly vowed to take back the peninsula, including by force.

The number of UAV and missile attacks on the Crimean peninsula has recently increased, in the context of Ukraine launching a major counter-offensive campaign against Russian forces. Russia has repeatedly accused Ukraine of attacking the Crimean peninsula, but Kiev often denies responsibility.

Russian officials have repeatedly warned that any attempt by Ukraine to retake Crimea would face dire consequences. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said in March that Russia would use any weapons at its disposal if Ukraine tried to retake Crimea.