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Putin must ‘prepare for the worst’ as UK sends long-range 600mph Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine
AN EX-RUSSIAN colonel warned that Putin must "prepare for the worst" after the UK sent long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Mikhail Khodaryonok said "it's better for Russia to be safe than sorry" hours after it was confirmed Storm Shadow missiles were heading to the war-torn nation.
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The long-range Storm Shadow missiles will allow Ukraine to further push Vladimir Putin's forces back into Russia.
Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 600mph and blast targets up to 350 miles away.
It means the weapons could hit a targets at maximum range in just 35 minutes - travelling nearly half the length of the UK.
Speaking to Russian news outlet Russia-1, Khodaryonok said: "It's better for us in this respect to be safe than sorry and prepare for the worst-case scenario".
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He highlighted that Ukraine's offensive operation could "begin with a massive strike using that high-precision weaponry as deep as possible on all possible sites in Russia, primarily infrastructure sites".
A military expert also insisted that the long-range missiles must be taken seriously.
Alexei Leonkov said the devastating missile “posed a threat” due to its ability to fly “not in a straight line”.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace earlier confirmed the missiles are being sent.
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"The donation of these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia's continued brutality," Mr Wallace said.
"Ukraine has a right to be able to defend itself."
Rocket and artillery experts in Russia have issued warnings of the potential destruction that these missiles may be able to cause.
"Storm Shadow poses a serious threat to our army and the country, as this missile can go around the air defence zone and the actions of long-range radar aircraft," warned Dr Konstantin Sivkov, deputy president of Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences.
Military commentator Colonel Yuri Knutov urged the Russian military to locate storages for Storm Shadow in Ukraine - and destroy them before they are used.
He predicted they would be deployed by “enemy specialists” with technical expertise.
Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 600mph and blast targets up to 350 miles away.
It means the weapons could hit a targets at maximum range in just 35 minutes - travelling almost half the length of the UK.
US military officials described the missile as a "a real game-changer from a range perspective".
The missile costs £790,000 and has onboard guidance systems to help seek out enemies.
They are designed to hit well-defended static targets like facilities, bunkers and bridges.
But Dmitry Belik, an MP for occupied Sevastopol, said Storm Shadow would not be a “miracle weapon” for Ukraine.
The Russian army was "strengthening its shield and, of course, is preparing a longer-range response capability”, he said.
Mr Wallace also highlighted that it is only due to the actions of Russia that the UK have decided to deploy the Storm Shadows missiles to the war-torn country.
And he pointed out the missiles could not compare to the devastating weapons being used by Putin.
"These systems are not even in the same league as the Russian AS-24 killjoy hypersonic missile" or "even the Kalibr cruise missile with a range of over 2,000 kilometres".
But despite Russia's fears over the devastating Storm Shadow missiles - Vadim Kozyulin, of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, said: “How successfully the enemy will be able to use such missiles is not very clear yet.
";In principle, the [Ukrainians] can use Storm Shadow to hit military facilities, logistics routes and destroy energy infrastructure," he added.
Kozyulin highlighted that Zelensky's office has assured Britain that no strikes would be carried out on Russian territory but believes the Ukrainian army will attack Crimea and the new regions of the Russian Federation.
He stressed: “Ukraine is indeed being prepared for a counter-attack and strikes on Crimea, and we need to take this seriously.”
Yet “we are able to withstand Storm Shadow - our air defence systems are ready for such challenges,” he added.
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Britain is understood to have received assurances from Kyiv that these missiles would be used only within Ukraine.
They will not be used to hit targets inside Russia - something it is feared could further stoke tension between Putin and the West.
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