Ukraine has reportedly launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia for the first time, according to reports from the BBC.
Previously, Ukraine had been restricted to using these long-range missiles only within its own territory. The news comes after the United States granted permission for Ukraine to target Russian territory with American-provided missiles.
Ukrainian and British officials have not confirmed the reports for security reasons. However, UK Defence Secretary John Healey did speak with his Ukrainian counterpart recently. The UK government is expected to tread carefully in its response, wary of how Russia might react and avoiding the impression that Britain is leading the offensive.
In Parliament, Healey emphasized that Ukraine’s military actions are clear enough on their own. Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, similarly refrained from confirming the missile use in Russia but affirmed that all measures are being taken to defend Ukraine.
The US State Department also declined to comment on whether the UK-supplied missiles were used or if the US was assisting in targeting. A spokesperson avoided discussing the specifics of other countries’ weapons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently urged Western allies to permit the use of long-range missiles to target Russia, which he argues is essential to ending the war. The Storm Shadow, a missile designed to hit heavily fortified targets, is seen as highly effective for this purpose.
Previously, both the US and UK had withheld permission for Ukraine to use such missiles, fearing it could escalate the conflict. However, President Joe Biden recently authorized the use of US Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) to hit Russian targets, and Ukraine utilized them to strike Bryansk earlier this week. Additionally, the US has approved the supply of landmines to hinder Russian advancements.
At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, UK Prime Minister Sir Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense needs. The Storm Shadow missile, jointly developed by the UK and France, has a range of about 250km (155 miles) and can fly low to avoid detection before delivering a powerful explosive.
