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Moscow says Kyiv using UK missiles to hit 'civilian targets'

By AFP - May 13,2023 - Last updated at May 13,2023

MOSCOW — Moscow said Saturday that Kyiv used British long-range missiles to target civilian sites in the eastern city of Lugansk, wounding six children.

The defence ministry said that on Friday evening Ukraine's armed forces had struck two civilian enterprises.

"Storm Shadow air-to-air missiles supplied to the Kyiv regime by Great Britain were used for the strike, despite London's declarations that these weapons would not be used against civilian targets", the ministry said in a statement.

"Nearby residential buildings were damaged. Civilians were injured, including six children," the statement added.

The ministry said a Sukhoi Su-24 jet that carried the missiles and a MiG-29 aircraft had been shot down.

By announcing it would deliver the air-launched deep-strike weapon, Britain became first country to provide longer-range armament to Kyiv. Russia branded the move an "extremely hostile step".

Germany's defence ministry said it was preparing a package worth 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion), reportedly Berlin's largest since Russia invaded its neighbour.

"We all hope for a rapid end to this terrible war by Russia against the Ukrainian people, but unfortunately this is not in sight," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement.

"This is why Germany will supply all the help that it can, for as long as necessary," he said.

Kyiv was quick to welcome Germany's weapons package, which will include 30 additional Leopard-1 tanks, Marder armoured vehicles, air-defence systems and surveillance drones.

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