Ukrainian soldiers ride a tank in the Donetsk region
(Picture: AP)Russia is experiencing a “critical shortage” of ground-attack missiles as it advances on Kramatrosk and Siversk, British defence chiefs have said.
Vladimir Putin’s troops have been forced to use air defence missiles due to the shortages.
Vitaly Kim, governor of Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, said Russian adversaries had used seven air defence missiles to strike infrastructure, energy facilities and storage areas on Thursday.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 22 July 2022
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Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/dzM1pWtGbD
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In its latest intelligence briefing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there is a “high chance of these weapons missing their intended targets and causing civilian casualties” as they are not optimised for the role.
The MoD said: “In the Donbas, Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian attempts to assault the Vuhlehirsk power plant. Russian artillery remains focused on areas around the cities of Kramatorsk and Siversk.
“Russia has increased its use of air defence missiles in a secondary ground attack mode because of critical shortages of dedicated ground-attack missiles.
“Russia has almost certainly deployed S-300 and S-400 strategic air defence systems, designed to shoot down aircraft and missiles at long ranges, near Ukraine from the start of invasion.”
It adds that the “weapons have relatively small warheads” and while they could pose a threat to troops in open and light buildings “are unlikely to penetrate hardened structures”.
“There is a high chance of these weapons missing their intended targets and causing civilian casualties because the missiles they are not optimised for this role, and their crews will have little training for such missions.”
It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced the UK will send scores of artillery guns and more than 1,600 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine to bolster the country’s defence against Russia.
"Together with our international partners, we will ensure Ukraine has the tools to defend their country from Putin’s illegal invasion," Mr Wallace said.
He added that the UK would also provide counter-battery radar systems, hundreds of drones and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition, as Russian shelling continued to pound a densely populated area near Kharkiv on Thursday.
The UK has already supplied Ukraine with a range of military equipment including almost 7,000 anti-tank weapons, hundreds of missiles and armoured fighting vehicles, and has also been training Ukrainian soldiers.
At least three people died and 23 others were injured after a strike on a medical facility and a shopping area on Thursday, according to officials in the Kharkiv area.
Russia reiterated its plans to seize territories beyond eastern Ukraine, where the Russian military has spent months trying to conquer Ukraine’s Donbas region, south of Kharkiv.
The Russian declaration came after Ukraine aired plans to try to recapture Russian-occupied areas near the southern Black Sea coast.
