Russian forces are running low on long-range air defence missiles after its troops killed 25 residents in a strike in Zaporizhzhia, the Ministry of Defence has said.
The strikes were carried out as Vladimir Putin staged the biggest land grab since World War Two on Friday, annexing 15 per cent of Ukraine.
Mr Putin declared a vast chunk of Ukraine as parts of Russian as he held a signing ceremony with Moscow-appointed leaders of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Prior to the ceremony, a missile strike in Zaporizhzhia killed 25 civilians and wounded 50 waiting at a bus stop checkpoint.
In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that Russia is now running low on certain types of munitions.
It reads: “On 30 September 2022, Russian forces almost certainly struck a convoy south-east of the town of Zaporizhzhia. Local authorities report 25 civilians killed. The munition involved was likely a Russian long-range air defence missile being used in a ground attack role.
“Russia’s stock of such missiles is highly likely limited and is a high-value resource designed to shoot down modern aircraft and incoming missiles, rather than for use against ground targets.”
The MoD adds: “Its use in ground attack role has almost certainly been driven by overall munitions shortages, particularly longer-range precision missiles.
“On the same day, President Putin signed annexation agreements for Zaporizhzhia and other parts of occupied Ukraine.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 1 October 2022
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) October 1, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/MNhzXEbxeJ
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/NJ7ChUhMTQ
“Russia is expending strategically valuable military assets in attempts to achieve tactical advantage and in the process is killing civilians it now claims are its own citizens.”
Following the Russian annexation, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss accused Putin of breaching international law.
She said: "The UK will never accept the regions as anything other than Ukrainian territory. Putin cannot be allowed to alter international borders."
Soon after Putin’s speech, Ukraine formally applied to join NATO and the US and UK imposed more sanctions.
Mr Zelensky said last night his country will no longer negotiate with Russia as long as Putin is in power.
