'Ukraine using UK Storm Shadow missiles marks dangerous escalation - the government must be prepared'

Ukraine has reportedly used UK Storm Shadow missiles in an assault on Russia, hitting a base in the Kursk region which was said to be housing top North Korean commanders and Russian brass

From the moment Vladimir Putin launched his illegal war, Ukraine has been fighting with one hand behind its back.

The country had been struggling to contain and reverse the Russian military onslaught because of its allies’ reluctance to allow the use of long-range weapons. That changed this week as the UK followed the lead of the US by reportedly granting Kyiv permission to use Storm Shadow missiles.

Although the government has not officially confirmed their deployment, it is widely understood these weapons were used for the first time yesterday in a strike on Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region. It is hoped these missiles can turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favour but it marks a significant and potentially dangerous escalation in the UK’s involvement in the conflict.

President Putin’s threat of nuclear retaliation may or may not be the hollow words of a panicked tyrant desperate to save face. But having made such a momentous decision the government must now be prepared for any fallout which follows.

Tom tarnished

Captain Sir Tom Moore won our hearts with his fundraising during the pandemic. His heroic walks on behalf of NHS charities encapsulated the spirit of lockdown when people came together to support their neighbours, help others and clap frontline workers.

Sadly, his legacy has been tarnished by his own daughter and her husband, Hannah and Colin Ingram-Moore. The Charity Commission today accuses the couple of repeated misconduct and mismanagement of the Captain Tom Foundation.

Their behaviour, which has sullied his good name, surely merits further investigation.

Farewell Liam

One Direction were united in grief at Liam Payne’s funeral yesterday. They said farewell not just to a bandmate but to a friend, a father and a loved one.