Ukraine has fired British Storm Shadow missiles at an occupied port used by the Kremlin to export stolen grain, according to Russian officials.

Video posted on the Telegram social messaging app showed at least one large explosion consistent with a missile strike on the port area of occupied Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov, 65 miles behind the frontline.

“Information on the fatalities is being clarified,” Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-installed official in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, said on the Telegram messaging app.

He shared the footage of a large plume of smoke rising from the port.

“Three to six Storm Shadow missiles hit the city. According to some reports, four people were injured as a result of the strike,” the Rybar Telegram channel told its 1.3 million subscribers.

Ukraine has only been able to hit Berdyansk since last month when the British government handed over Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 200 miles.


The Storm Shadow missiles are fired by Ukraine’s warplanes and have already been used to hit supply depots and command posts in Luhansk, as well as at least one previous strike on Berdyansk.

Military analysts have said that strikes on Berdyansk were part of Ukraine’s “shaping strategy” ahead of its heavily-trailed counteroffensive. The Kremlin has exported tonnes of stolen Ukrainian grain through Berdyansk to allied countries, such as Syria.