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British tanks have been used by Ukrainian troops in their cross-border assault into Russia just over a week ago, The Independent understands.
British Challenger 2 tanks were used during the shock Ukrainian incursion, according to a UK source, in the first time they have been rolled out on Russian territory.
The UK agreed to give Ukraine 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks in January 2023 in a move that prompted Germany and the United States to follow suit with their versions.
The Ministry of Defence told The Independent Ukraine has a “clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia.”
Ukraine’s powerful 82nd Air Assault Brigade has been operating the British tanks since last year and is confirmed to have been taking part in the Kursk offensive.
It comes as new satellite images from Maxar show Russian troops have been forced to build a series of field fortifications – including trenches and anti-vehicle ditches – north of Ukraine’s advance.
A US-Russian dual national has been convicted of treason in a Russian court and sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges stemming from a donation of about $52 to a charity aiding Ukraine. Ksenia Khavana was identified by Russian authorities by her maiden name of Ksenia Karelina, was arrested in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in February and pleaded guilty in a closed trial last week, news reports said. Khavana, a 33-year-old former ballet dancer, reportedly obtained U.S. citizenship after marrying an American and moving to Los Angeles. She had returned to Russia to visit her family. She reportedly had her phone confiscated after arriving in Yekaterinburg in January and police found evidence on the phone of the donation. Soon before her planned departure, she was jailed for 15 days on petty hooliganism charges and then charged with treason. Russia’s Federal Security Service said she “proactively collected money in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which was subsequently used to purchase tactical medical supplies, equipment, weapons, and ammunition for the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Rise in entries for A-levels in Russian
Ukrainian refugees may be fuelling a rise in entries for A-level Russian, it has been suggested.
A-level exam data shows there were 1,044 entries for the subject this summer, up from 827 in 2023 – a 26% increase.
It means that entries for the subject are now at their highest level since 2018, when the number stood at 1,160.
Sir Ian Bauckham, Ofqual’s chief regulator, said: “It’s difficult to be precise about why exactly you see changes in these lesser taught languages, but I think we can all imagine that some Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK over the last couple of years – many of whom are proficient in Russian – may have chosen to enter A-level Russian, and done that using their school or college as an exam centre.
“So it’s likely that that kind of change is behind the changes that you see in entry figures for subjects like Russian.”
Teenagers who came to the UK when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 with knowledge of Russian are likely to have started A-level courses in the autumn of that year and would be receiving their results this summer – two years later, which is the usual length of an A-level course.
Ukraine says it has set up a military office in occupied Kursk region
Ukraine’s top commander says Kyiv has set up a military commandant’s office in the occupied Kursk region of Russia.
Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces have taken up to 1.5km (0.93 miles) of territory in the region in the last 24 hours – and are still advancing.
Mr Syrskyi told Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video published by the Ukrainian leader that Kyiv’s forces had advanced 35km (21.7 miles) into the Kursk region since launching its attack last week.
The Ukraine incursion has called Putin’s bluff – and rightly damaged his reputation
Ukraine is ‘provoking and poking’ Russia to use nuclear weapons, Russian MP says
A Russian MP has insisted that the Ukraine is ‘provoking and poking’ her country to use ominous nuclear weapons threats.
Maria Butina appeared on Newsnight, insisting that Ukraine’s goal was to “escalate the conflict”, and that any ‘captured’ Russian territory would quickly be taken back.
“Russia will do everything to protect its territory”, she said. “They’re attacking nuclear plants…yes, they’re provoking a nuclear conflict..they have no understanding of what it’s going to be.”
“By trying to get PR points from the West, they actually put in danger the whole world.”
Ukraine is ‘provoking and poking’ Russia to use nuclear weapons, Russian MP says
A Russian MP has insisted that the Ukraine is ‘provoking and poking’ her country to use ominous nuclear weapons threats. Maria Butina appeared on Newsnight, insisting that Ukraine’s goal was to “escalate the conflict”, and that any ‘captured’ Russian territory would quickly be taken back. “Russia will do everything to protect its territory”, she said. “They’re attacking nuclear plants…yes, they’re provoking a nuclear conflict..they have no understanding of what it’s going to be.” “By trying to get PR points from the West, they actually put in danger the whole world.”
UK ministry of defence statement on British tanks in Russia
“There has been no change in UK government policy, under Article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia.
“We make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law.”
Russia sentences ballerina to 12 years in jail for donating £40 to charity
A Russian-American ballerina has been jailed for 12 years in Russia for donating £40 to a charity supporting Ukraine.
Ksenia Karelina pleaded guilty at her closed trial in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, where her case was heard by the same court that convicted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of espionage in July.
Her supporters say she had donated £40 to Razom for Ukraine, a New York-based charity that provides humanitarian aid to children and elderly people in Ukraine
Russia sends forces of its Eastern military district to Mongolia for drills
Russia has sent forces of its Eastern military district to Mongolia to participate in joint drills, state news agency TASS said on Thursday, quoting the defence ministry.
Moscow, currently fighting a 10-day-old incursion by Ukrainian forces into western Russia, has continued to stage joint military exercises with foreign partners throughout the Ukraine war.
British tanks used in Russia incursion
British tanks have been used by Ukrainian troops in their cross-border assault into Russia just over a week ago, The Independent understands.
British Challenger 2 tanks were used during the shock Ukrainian incursion, according to a UK source, in the first time they have been rolled out on Russian territory.
The UK agreed to give Ukraine 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks in January 2023 in a move that prompted Germany and the United States to follow suit with their versions.
Pictured: Ukrainian troops on the frontline
Source: independent.co.uk
