Russia’s threat to Britain: Kremlin says British tanks sent to Ukraine ‘will burn’ and warns military aid ‘will not change situation on ground but will prolong war’

The Kremlin said on Monday that any British tanks sent to Ukraine would “burn” on the battlefield and warned that military aid “will not help the situation on the ground” but will only serve to end the ongoing invasion .

Since President Vladimir Putin deployed troops to Ukraine on February 24, the United States and its allies have donated tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including missile systems, drones, armored vehicles and communications systems.

Britain said on Saturday it would send 14 of its Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks, along with other artillery support.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the British tanks, accused Britain of “using this country as a tool to advance its anti-Russian goals”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the British tanks, accused Britain of “using this country as a tool to advance its anti-Russian goals”. Pictured: A destroyed Russian tank covered in snow in the village of Kamyanka, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, January 14

“The military special operation continues. These tanks are burning and will burn,” he said, using Moscow’s term for Putin’s invasion.

He added that plans by some countries – such as the UK and Poland – to send tanks to Ukraine “will not change the situation on the ground”. It will only prolong this story.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised last week to supply British Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev. Earlier this month, France also pledged to send tanks – the French-built AMX-10 RC – to Ukraine.

The Kremlin also denied any conflict between the defense ministry and the Wagner mercenary group fighting for Russia in Ukraine on Monday, calling it a media fabrication.

Tensions between Wagner and the defense apparatus erupted last Friday when the ministry called for the capture of the Ukrainian town of Soledar – which Ukraine has disputed – but made no mention of Wagner’s role in the fighting.

Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, lamented attempts to downplay his group’s role and downplay its achievements. The Department of Defense later released an update praising the “courageous and selfless actions” of the Wagner fighters.

Peskov told reporters that engaging in “media manipulation” over an alleged rift between the armed forces and Wagner was unhelpful to pro-Russian media. He said that Russia recognizes both as heroes and that “both will be remembered forever”.

“As with all conflicts, these are primarily products of information manipulations, sometimes orchestrated by our information adversaries, but sometimes our friends act in ways that render such adversaries unnecessary,” he said.

Everyone is fighting for their country. So that’s how it should be seen.’

Emergency services work at the site where a residential building was badly damaged by a Russian missile attack in Dnipro, Ukraine on January 15

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Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under pressure to agree to an increase in international military support for Kiev by allowing manufacturer Germany and other countries that have them to export Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Warsaw has indicated that it is willing to send Leopard tanks to its neighbor.

However, Kyiv suffered a setback on Sunday when German arms maker Rheinmetall said it could not send repaired Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine until 2024 at the earliest and needed a confirmed order to start repairs.

The top man was quoted by the newspaper Bild on Sunday.

Germany announced earlier this month that it would provide Ukraine with 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to repel Russian troops.

But Kiev has also requested heavier vehicles such as the Leopards, which would represent a significant advance in Western aid to Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said earlier this month that delivery of the Leopard tanks cannot be “ruled out”.

The German army today has only about 350 Leopard 2 tanks, compared to about 4,000 main battle tanks at the height of the Cold War.

For Rheinmetall, restoring the tanks in stock – at least 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 Leopard 1 tanks – will cost several hundred million euros, Papperger told Bild.

“The vehicles must be completely dismantled and rebuilt,” he added.

The company also has 100 Marder vehicles, Papperger said, but that will also take seven to eight months to become operational.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the head of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov on Friday, January 13, during their meeting in Ufa, capital of Bashkortostan, Russia.

Germany has become one of Ukraine’s top military backers in response to last year’s Russian invasion, breaking a taboo rooted in the bloody 20th-century history of sending weapons to conflict zones.

But critics say Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ruling SPD are too slow, waiting for allies to act first, rather than taking on the responsibilities of Germany as Ukraine’s closest Western power.

The German arms industry is not legally allowed to produce tanks for storage. According to experts, it could take at least two years before new tanks are ready for use, even if production were to be increased.

The country’s military aid to Ukraine may have faltered further on Monday when the much-criticized German defense minister announced her resignation.

Christine Lambrecht’s decision also comes because her department is leading the massive project to modernize the country’s military.

In a written statement, she said she had addressed her resignation request to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that “months of media attention to my person” had prevented a factual debate about military and German security policy.

Lambrecht (57) has been secretary of defense since Scholz became chancellor in December 2021.

Critics have long portrayed her as overwhelmed. But Scholz stood by her, describing her last month as “a top defense secretary.”

The pressure on her recently increased after a poorly rated New Year’s video message.

The notoriously clumsy department has a history of declining ministerial status.

Its importance increased with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This prompted Scholz to announce a special fund of 100 billion euros for upgrading the Bundeswehr, which has been neglected for years and, above all, has outdated and inadequate equipment.

The country’s military aid to Ukraine may have faltered further on Monday when the much-criticized German defense minister announced her resignation. Christine Lambrecht’s decision also comes because her department is leading the massive project to modernize the country’s military. In the photo: Lambrecht can be seen on January 12

Lambrecht last month rejected suggestions that the government was too slow to boost spending. She said officials acted quickly, but “projects like this need to be negotiated carefully — it’s taxpayers’ money.”

The minister was also criticized for the unfortunate communications, starting with an announcement in January 2022 that Germany would deliver 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine as “a very clear sign that we are on your side”.

In April, she took her 21-year-old son on a military helicopter flight, which became public when he posted a photo on Instagram believed to have been taken by the minister himself.

Her ministry said she applied for the permit and paid the cost herself, but critics say it shows poor judgement.

An amateurish New Year’s video message posted on her private Instagram account sparked new calls from the opposition for Lambrecht’s departure and tested the patience of political allies.

It showed a barely audible Lambrecht speech against the backdrop of loud New Year’s fireworks in a Berlin street.

“There is a war raging in the middle of Europe,” she said. ‘And it was linked to a lot of special impressions that I was able to get – a lot of meetings with interesting, wonderful people.’