Ukraine has reportedly blasted a Russian military base with four long-range missiles supplied by the UK.
President Zelensky’s forces are said to have targeted a former industrial plant that has been seized in the occupied city of Luhansk.
Ukraine is believed to have retaliated against the occupiers by targeting the Luhanskteplovoz, which is currently being used as a repair base for Russian equipment.
Dramatic video shows at least three huge columns of smoke eerily over the city as huge explosions rang out.
The repurposed industrial plant was reportedly ploughed with at least four fearsome Storm Shadow missiles supplied by the UK.
Locals reported hearing three horror bangs near the blast zone.
S-400 surface-to-air missile failed
The attempts by Russian S-400 air defences to shoot down the missile are said to have been futile.
It marks the fourth successful strike on Putin’s military in the Luhansk region in the last month.
But this shelling may prove the most effective – as Russia will have lost a significant number of troops as well as a key military base.
Soldiers will now be unable to repair their weaponry and tanks, which could give Ukraine a crucial advantage when trying to reclaim Luhansk.
Russia’s state-owned news agency Tass reported that “missiles flew over Luhansk, several explosions were heard in the city”.
The occupied city is the largest in the Luhansk region, one of four Ukrainian regions the Russian Federation claimed to have annexed in late 2022.
Storm Shadow cruise missiles
Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 600mph and blast targets up to 350 miles away.
It means the weapons could hit a targets at maximum range in just 35 minutes – travelling near half the length of the UK.
US military officials described the missile as a “a real game-changer from a range perspective”.
The devastating missile costs £790,000 and has onboard guidance systems to help seek out enemies.
They are designed to hit well-defended static targets like facilities, bunkers and bridges.
The weapon works like a dive-bomber.
It cruises low over the land before shooting high into the sky and then coming down on its target from a near vertical angle.
© 2023, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.