A Ukrainian strike using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles reportedly killed a Russian general and approximately 500 North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region Wednesday, marking the first use of UK-supplied weapons for deep strikes into Russian territory, according to multiple reports awaiting independent verification.
Lt-Gen Valery Solodchuk was among those reportedly killed in the precision strike that targeted an underground command post, while 18 other Russian officers died and 18 more were wounded, according to US-based Global Defense Corp. Reports also suggest one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s generals was injured in the attack, though neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has confirmed any casualties.
The significant casualties may explain Russia’s Thursday response launching a hypersonic missile against Ukraine’s Dnipro region. The escalation follows Ukraine’s deployment of up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles from aircraft earlier in the week.
“This represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s deep-strike capabilities,” said military analyst Viktor Petrov. “The £800,000 Storm Shadow missiles are particularly effective due to their GPS guidance and ability to evade air defenses at speeds of up to 600mph.”
Video footage shared on social media captured the sound of multiple missiles approaching the Kursk region, where the governor had previously claimed two missiles were intercepted without specifying their type. Ukrainian news site Defense Express reported the missiles targeted an underground Russian command center likely housing North Korean troops, though these claims remain unverified.
The presence of North Korean forces in Ukraine has become an increasingly significant factor in the conflict, with both Western intelligence and Ukrainian officials reporting growing numbers of North Korean troops supporting Russian operations.
Source: the-sun.com
