Healey faces MP questions after ’12 Storm Shadow missiles used in Russia’

John Healey will face questions from MPs on Thursday amid reports of Storm Shadow missiles provided by Britain being used by Ukraine within Russia.

The Defence Secretary is due to appear before the Commons’ Defence Committee, in which he is likely to be grilled on the UK’s position on support for Kyiv.

It comes as Russia’s military said it has shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, and Ukraine claimed Moscow has fired intercontinental ballistic missiles at one of its cities, the first time such a weapon has been used in the war.

British ministers have avoided questions about whether the UK has given permission for Kyiv to fire its long range missiles into Russian territory, after US President Joe Biden announced the USA had.

Debris from a Storm Shadow missile has also been found in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, with up to 12 of the missiles deployed, according to multiple reports.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons, following Mr Biden’s decision to allow Kyiv to fire US ATACMS long-range missiles into Russia.

Downing Street would not comment on the reports.

Mr Healey is due to appear before the Commons Defence Committee at 10.30am – while the House of Lords was expected to hold a debate on Ukraine led by Lord Peter Ricketts, chairman of the European Affairs Committee, later in the day.