Russia probably firing missiles stripped of nuclear warheads, says UK

Russia is firing ageing cruise missiles stripped of their nuclear warheads as stocks are so depleted, British defence chiefs said.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) says imagery shows the wreckage of an AS-15 Kent cruise missile – apparently shot down – that was designed in the 1980s “exclusively as a nuclear delivery system”.

Despite the improvisation by Vladimir Putin’s forces, the MoD said the new tactic is "unlikely to achieve reliable effects" and are likely to be used as decoys to divert Ukraine’s air defences.

The MoD tweeted: “The warhead had probably been substituted for ballast. Although such an inert system will still produce some damage through the missile’s kinetic energy and any unspent fuel, it is unlikely to achieve reliable effects against intended targets.

“Russia almost certainly hopes such missiles will function as decoys and divert Ukrainian air defences.

“Whatever Russia’s intent, this improvisation highlights the level of depletion in Russia’s stock of long-range missiles.”

It comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Europeans to remain united against Russia’s war and to severely limit the price for Russian oil as around half of Ukraine’s energy facilities have been damaged in recent strikes.

"There is no split, there is no schism among Europeans and we have to preserve this," Mr Zelensky said in an address via a live video link to a conference in Lithuania.

"Europe is helping itself. It’s not helping Ukraine to stand against Russia, this is helping Europe to stand against Russian aggression," he added.

Large parts of Ukraine have suffered heat or power outages after the most devastating Russian air strikes on its energy grid so far, and in Kyiv, residents were warned to brace themselves for further attacks and to stock up on water, food and warm clothing.

Commenting on the Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said targeting the power grid and civilian structures was intended to mask Mr Putin’s military failures.

Speaking during a visit to a shipyard in Glasgow on Friday, Mr Wallace said Ukrainians must “press the momentum to keep pushing Russia back”.

He noted the illegality of targeting civilian infrastructure under international law, adding that “we’re not going to let that type of bullying and brutality be successful”.

The Defence Secretary continued: “Part of this targeting does show he’s got a sense of desperation that his army is not being successful.”

Mr Wallace also pointed to Moscow’s recent withdrawal from Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson, the only regional capital captured by Mr Putin’s army during the invasion to date.