Russia's war in Ukraine
Explosions in the Russian-occupied eastern city of Luhansk was conducted by Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a retired Russian lieutenant colonel said on Saturday, according to preliminary reports and reported by Russian state news agency TASS.
"The JCCC [the LPR representatives to the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine] officially filed information that the May 12 strikes on Luhansk were carried out by Storm Shadow missiles. Today was most likely the second test launch on the city with this particular type of ammunition,” retired Lt. Col. Andrei Marochko of the Luhansk People's Republic Militia said, as reported by TASS.
Marochko added that there were "no causalities or victims" among civilians, but there was partial damage to residential buildings, and information is still being verified.
Ukraine has not made any official comment on the use of Storm Shadow missiles since Britain announced it had supplied Ukraine with the weapons earlier this week. The long-range cruise missile, which is jointly developed by the UK and France, has stealth capabilities and is typically launched from the air.
According to TASS, a Luhansk eyewitness named Anna said the explosion happened at about 9.30 a.m. Moscow time, and “the lights went out at home” immediately afterward.
“Windows flew out in the neighboring houses. … After the explosion, a siren went off, and ambulances and the Ministry of Emergency Situations crews arrived,” Anna said, as reported by TASS.
Artem Lysohor, the Ukrainian head of Luhansk region military administration, claimed the effectiveness of Russia’s Iranian-made Shahed drones is "catastrophically declining every week."
"The situation on the ground is also in disarray, where the Russians are still saved by 'import substitutes' of T-54 and T-62 tanks at the front," Lysohor said in a Telegram post.
An explosion was heard Saturday morning in the suburbs of Luhansk, which has rarely come under attack by Ukrainian forces since the Russian invasion. On Friday, the city was struck by two missiles, injuring six children, the head of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic said.
Source: CNN
