UK gives cruise missiles to Ukraine

KYIV DELAYS COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AS IT WAITS FOR MORE WEAPONS. THAT MEANS IT CAN HIT TARGETS DEEP BEHIND THE FRONT LINE, INCLUDING IN RUSSIA-OCCUPIED CRIMEA

The British government announced on Thursday it was giving long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine to help drive out Russia's occupying forces, just as Kyiv delayed a possible counteroffensive more than 14 months after the Kremlin's full-scale invasion as it awaits the delivery of more Western weapons.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told lawmakers in the House of Commons that Britain is donating Storm Shadow missiles, a conventionally armed deep-strike weapon with a range of more than 250 kilometres (150 miles).

That means it can hit targets deep behind the front line, including in Russia-occupied Crimea.

UK media reported that Ukraine has pledged not to use the missiles to attack Russia itself.

Wallace said the missiles "are now going into or are in the country itself."