Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking with long-range missiles received from Britain

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Ukrainian air force launched Storm Shadow long-range missiles, recently delivered by the UK, to strike targets in Lugansk.

"The Storm Shadow cruise missiles that Britain transferred to Ukraine were used in the attack on two civilian businesses in the city of Lugansk, despite London's claim that these weapons would not be used to attack civilian targets," the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on May 13.

Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting a polymer plastics manufacturing business and a food processing facility. The attack also damaged several nearby apartment buildings and injured numerous civilians, including six children.

The Ministry of Defense announced that the Russian Air Force shot down a Ukrainian Su-24 attack aircraft and a MiG-29 fighter jet involved in the attack on the city of Lugansk using Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

The Lugansk authorities also claimed that the Ukrainian army used two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and one ADM-160B MALD projectile in the May 12 attack.

This could be the first combat deployment of the Storm Shadow long-range missile that Britain recently transferred to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the ADM-160B is a decoy missile manufactured by the US, which Ukraine may deploy to disrupt Russian air defenses in Lugansk.

Kyiv has not commented on the information just released by Russian officials. Ukrainian troops have rarely attacked the city of Lugansk since fighting broke out in February 2022, due to a lack of long-range weapons capable of striking targets there.

The French Rafale MO2 fighter jet is equipped with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles. Photo: MBDA — The French Rafale MO2 fighter jet is equipped with Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles. Photo: *MBDA*

Another large explosion was reported in the eastern suburbs of Lugansk on the morning of May 13th. Leonid Pasechnik, a pro-Russian official in Lugansk, said firefighters had been deployed to the scene, but did not provide an update on the number of casualties. Several witnesses described the explosion as shattering windows in many houses and thick black smoke rising from the scene.

British Defence Minister Ben Wallace confirmed on May 11 that the UK is providing Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles to "give Kyiv the best chance of defending itself against Moscow," pushing back Russian troops present on the Ukrainian battlefield. The missile has a maximum speed of 1,000 km/h and is capable of hitting targets at a distance of 250-560 km depending on the variant.

On May 12, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned Britain's provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, calling it a hostile act against Moscow and an escalation of hostilities.

A Western official said Ukraine had assured the British government that it would only use Storm Shadow missiles to strike areas controlled by Russia after hostilities broke out in February 2022 and the Crimean Peninsula, not deep inside Russian territory.