WW3 strike warning as Russia says UK soldiers could be hit | World | News
Vladimir Putin’s aide has threatened that British soldiers could be hit by a Russian missile if Sir Keir Starmer sends them to post-war Ukraine. The Kremlin is deliberately using nuclear-capable Orenshik missiles to deter Western states from sending their personnel to Ukraine after the end of the conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, experts said.
Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in their daily report summarizing yesterday’s events: “Russian authorities are clearly using the latest Oreshnik attack to deter Western states from sending troops to post-war Ukraine, in accordance with ISW’s assessment of the purpose of the attack.”
ISW highlighted that Russian Security Council Chairman and former President Dmitry Medvedev in his English account X threatened that Moscow could use Oreshnik missiles to attack European or NATO troops deployed to post-war Ukraine as part of security guarantees.
Additionally, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the Russian State Duma, Leonid Slutsky, stated on January 9 that Russian retaliation against future “blatant violations of red lines” was “inevitable”.
Experts added: “ISW recently assessed that the Kremlin targeted the westernmost part of Ukraine with an Oreshnik missile to deter Europe and the United States from providing security guarantees to Ukraine, in particular from deploying a multinational assurance force as the Coalition of Volunteers is currently discussing.”
Britain will spend £200 million to prepare British troops for deployment to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, the Defense Secretary said on January 9.
John Healey was speaking after a one-day visit to Kiev on Friday and discussed plans for the Ukrainian Multinational Force with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The money will be used for upgrades to vehicles and communications systems, counter-drone protection and other equipment to ensure troops are ready for deployment.
Mr Healey said: “Following the Prime Minister’s announcement this week, we are increasing investment in our preparations, ensuring Britain’s armed forces are ready to deploy and lead the Ukrainian Multinational Force, because a secure Ukraine means a secure United Kingdom.”
