British Challenger 2 tanks are being deployed by Ukrainian forces in mainland Russia in their offensive in the Kursk Oblast region, it has been claimed.
Sky News has said that should this be confirmed it will be the first time in history that British tanks has been used for combat inside Russia.
The British Ministry of Defence has declined to make any comments over the details of the Ukrainian operation in the Kursk Oblast region, including the Ukrainian armed forces.
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A Sky News source suggested that the British Challenger 2 tanks are being used in Russia along with other equipment since the Ukrainian offensive started on 6 August.
Ukraine’s82nd Air Assault Brigade is the unit which has been using the challenger 2 tanks since 2023 and a Russian politician Sergey Mironov said that German tanks are also being used in Russia.
Mironov told LondonLovesBusiness, “Like 80 years ago, German tanks and weapons are again deployed near Kursk — on internationally recognized Russian territory.”
Ukraine has been told that they are not allowed to use the British supplied long-range Storm Shadow missiles as part of their incursion in the Kursk Oblast.
A source told The Telegraph, “There has been no change,” in allowing Ukrainian forces to use the British made cruise missiles inside Russia.
The UK Ministry of Defence does allow Ukraine to use other weapons in their offensive in Kursk and Belgorod regions, a spokesperson said.
MPs are trying to convince Kyiv’s allies to allow Ukraine to deploy the Storm Shadow cruise missiles inside Russia, The Time reports.
The Independent reported, “There has been no change in UK Government policy, under Article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defense against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia.”
They added, “we make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law.”
