THIS is the dramatic moment Ukraine reportedly used UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to target a Russian facility allegedly housing top North Korean commanders.
Aerial footage purporting to show the strike captured rockets exploding a site in Russia’s Kursk region, which includes a presidential facility with an underground control room, Ukrainian defence experts said.
Will StewartThe moment a reported Russian underground facility is hit by Storm Shadow missiles[/caption]
Will StewartGiant plumes of smoke were seen billowing upward in the region of Kursk[/caption]
Will StewartThe strike allegedly hit a facility allegedly housing top North Korean commanders[/caption]
GOV.UKVirtual rendering of a Storm Shadow missile mid-flight[/caption]
Giant plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the site, before an orange fireball engulfs the building.
Reports suggest the attack targeted a location where North Korean generals could have been present alongside senior Russian military leaders.
According to Ukrainian outlet Defence Express, the use of multiple Storm Shadow missiles indicates the likely presence of high-ranking military personnel in the area.
This was further supported by debris analysis pointing to the use of UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles rather than French SCALPs.
Footage from the village of Maryino, near the historic Baryatinsky estate — currently operated as a Russian presidential sanatorium —captures a series of explosions during the strike.
Defence Express noted that the facility in question appears to be more than just a communications hub, describing it as a probable underground command post for Russian forces in the region.
Given the involvement of North Korean military personnel in the area, the site could have been used by both Russian and North Korean commanders, making it a significant target.
The missiles, known for their advanced design and 450-kg BROACH warhead, are engineered to penetrate hardened structures.
Defence Express highlighted the use of these cruise missiles on similar high-value military targets in the past, including a reserve command post of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
While official confirmation of the strike’s success is awaited, the report underscores the strategic importance of targeting such facilities, noting the implications of Ukraine’s authorisation to use Storm Shadow missiles within Russian territory.
This is understood to be the second video of Ukraine using British-supplied Storm Shadows to target Putin’s ground.
Unconfirmed footage from Wednesday afternoon showed a resident in the region of Kursk pointing at the sky before loud booms are heard in the background.
Residents were also seen uncovering fragments of the missile, one piece inscribed with “Storm Shadow.”
Hours later, the Defence Secretary announced the Armed Forces will be hit by £500 million worth of cuts, The Telegraph reports.
It comes after the US gave Kyiv the green light to use ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian targets.
Britain initially allowed Storm Shadows to target Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, but it now appears Kyiv has permission to use them against targets inside Russia.
The £800,000 missiles are highly effective, designed to evade air defenses and hit targets with GPS-guided precision at speeds of up to 600mph.
With a range of 180 miles, these weapons can strike deep into Russian territory.
GettyKeir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelensky at 10 Downing Street in July[/caption]
The UK’s decision to supply these advanced weapons, confirmed last year, aimed to bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace highlighted their potential to give Ukraine a critical edge.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while refusing to comment on operational specifics, reiterated the UK’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine has the tools needed to win the war.
The strike coincides with escalating tensions, as the Kremlin reacts angrily to Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities.
Russian propagandists have issued nuclear threats against the UK in response and North Korea, meanwhile, deployed of thousands of troops to support Russia’s war efforts, intensifying the conflict.
The move also comes after the US supplied powerful ATACMS missiles, which Ukraine used last week to destroy an ammunition depot in Russia‘s Bryansk region, marking a significant shift in Western support for Kyiv’s ability to strike inside Russia.
TelegramPlumes of smoke could be seen in a village in Kursk after Ukraine fired British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for the first time on Wednesday afternoon[/caption]
Image appears to show a fragment of a Storm Shadow missile