The Times: Ukraine prepared to use British missiles to strike Crimea PHOTO

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 surface-to-air Storm Shadows, The Times reported on February 9.

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”.

Zelenskyy met European parliamentarians in Brussels, 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.

Talks are now taking place to decide exactly how many British long-range missiles could be sent, despite previous concerns that enabling Ukraine to launch cross-border strikes on Russia could escalate the conflict.

Western allies have softened their stance in recent weeks on sending offensive weapons and appear to have accepted Kyiv’s arguments that Crimea is occupied territory that constitutes a legitimate target.

President Biden effectively doubled the range of the Ukrainian army last week by including ground-launched small-diameter bombs (GLSDB), capable of hitting targets 93 miles away, in the latest package of American support.

After the donation of GLSDBs, Ukraine promised not to hit targets in Russia but did not rule out Crimea.

On his visit to London, Zelenskyy thanked a “coalition” of western countries for their “latest” gift of longer-range missiles. “It will allow us to make the evil completely retreat from our country by destroying its airbases deep in the occupied territories,” he said.