British missiles used by Ukraine tore massive holes in hull of Russian submarine

BRITISH missiles tore massive holes in the hull of a Russian submarine – in the first strike on a Kremlin sub since the end of WW2.

The first close-up pictures show two gaping holes in the top and side that the make the sub unusable.

Naval expert H I Sutton said the Kilo-class Rostov-on-Don was now an “ex-submarine”.

He said the photos appeared credible and showed the damage was “even worse” than previously thought.

A barrage of Storm Shadow missiles bypassed Putin’s air defence systems to blast naval docks in Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea, last week.

They also destroyed a Ropucha-class landing ship designed to spew tanks and armoured vehicles onto beaches.

Before and after satellite pics showed the vessels side-by-side in dry dock for repairs.

Most of the damage focused on the Ropucha-class Minsk.

The pictures emerged as Russia hit back with a deadly barrage of 30 drones yesterday.

Ukraine said it shot down 27 but three got though, with a one sparking an inferno at warehouse in Lviv.

The head of Ukraine’s Air Force Lt Gen Oleshchuk had earlier hinted Storm Shadows were used when he said the Russians had endured a “storm”.

He added: “I thank the pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force for their wonderful work. There will be more.”