UK defence secretary forced to call off Odesa visit due to Russian missile threat

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps visited Ukraine (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Grant Shapps was forced to abandon a trip to Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa because of a Russian missile threat.

The UK defence secretary had to abort the visit after he was warned by British intelligence that the Russians had become aware of his travel plans, according to a Sunday Times report confirmed by a source close to Mr Shapps.