Ukraine's forces can use British weapons during their surprise advance into Russia - but with the exception of the long-range Storm Shadow missiles that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been lobbying Western allies for.

The UK has given armoured vehicles,anti-tank missiles and artillery during the two-and-a-half years of the conflict to Kyiv.

And the Ministry of Defence confirmed that Ukraine has a 'clear right of self-defence against Russia's illegal attacks' that 'does not preclude operations inside Russia'.

President Zelensky had wanted to additionally use Storm Shadows to strike deep inside Russia,so that he could put an end to Vladimir Putin's rule,but the UK has so far denied this.

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told The Times that he gave permission for Ukraine to strike inside Russia with 'whatever weapons (were) supplied to it',except for Storm Shadow.

A Ukrainian armoured military vehicle travels past a burned car near the Russian-Ukrainian border on Wednesday

Ukraine wants to use them to strike airfields and logistics hubs far beyond the front line that Moscow is using to reinforce its position in Kursk.

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Hamish de Bretton-Gordon,a former British tank commander,told The Telegraph Storm Shadow missiles would be able to strike rail heads and key roads coming into Kursk,plus any airfields within 100 miles. 

He said: 'Putin is rattled and this would show the West is fully committed to Ukraine,which has not been apparent hitherto.'

But the position on how to use the Storm Shadow missiles is not just the UK Government's to decide,as since the missile is manufactured with France they also have a say on conditions.

Kyiv has also shrugged off fears that the humiliated Putin may launch 'hundreds' of missiles in a violent bid for revenge. 

Military chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi confidently claimed Ukrainian troops are 'fulfilling their tasks' a week after the surprise offensive as he declared: 'The situation is under our control.' 

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