Russian forces intercepted two long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine by Britain, Russia’s defence ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry also said it had intercepted shorter-range US-built HIMARS-launched and HARM missiles and shot down 12 drones in the last 24 hours.

Russia did not specify where the interceptions had taken place but made the announcement in its daily defence ministry briefing, where it provides updates about what it terms its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Reuters could not immediately verify the battlefield reports.

Ukraine’s ministry of defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kyiv officials have previously said that Western-supplied weapons would be used exclusively against Russian forces inside Ukraine.

Drone attacks were recorded deep inside Russian territory on Saturday, hitting oil pipeline installations. Russia has tended to blame such attacks on Kyiv.

Counteroffensive

Ukraine’s top military commander signalled on Saturday morning that the nation’s forces were ready to launch their long-anticipated counteroffensive following months of preparations, including recently stepped-up attacks on logistical targets as well as feints and disinformation intended to keep Russian forces on edge.

“It’s time to get back what’s ours,” Ukraine’s supreme military commander, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, wrote in a statement.

The blunt statement, accompanied by a slickly produced video of Ukrainian troops preparing for battle and released on social media, appeared intended to rally a nation weary from 15 months of war and to deepen anxiety within the Russian ranks.