Britain says Ukraine can use donated weapons inside Russia

Britain says Ukraine can use donated weapons inside Russia



Britain‘s ministry of defense said on Thursday that British weapons can be used by Ukrainian forces in operations on Russian territory, but restrictions on the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles remain.
In the past two weeks, Ukraine has launched the most significant foreign attack on Russian soil since World War II. Ukrainian officials have stated that this move aims to establish a buffer zone to protect their population from further attacks.
David Cameron, the former British foreign secretary, had previously affirmed that Ukraine was entitled to use British-supplied weapons for strikes within Russia.However, the British government had not previously addressed the use of these weapons by Ukrainian ground forces on Russian territory.
Recently, a spokesperson for the UK’s ministry of defense has explicitly stated that Ukraine has a “clear right to self-defense against Russia’s unlawful assaults,” and this right includes conducting operations within Russia.
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“We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law,” the spokesperson said.
Under the new policy, British military equipment provided to Ukraine, including tanks and anti-tank missiles, can be used on Russian territory as part of Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion. However, restrictions still apply to British-supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles, which are only authorized for use within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.
Since August 6, Ukraine has reportedly reclaimed over 1,000 square kilometers (390 square miles) of Russian territory using drones, heavy artillery, and tanks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has labeled this action a “major provocation.”
Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Britain has committed military aid to Ukraine. This support has included 14 main battle tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition, air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment, and artillery. However, Britain, along with other Western nations, has been cautious about allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons due to concerns about escalating the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has continued to call for Western allies to permit long-range missile strikes into Russia, despite the risk of further escalation and Russia’s warning of potential retaliation
( with agency inputs)





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