Ukraine fires UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at Russia for first time
For the first time, Ukraine has launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets inside Russia, according to BBC sources. Previously, Ukraine had been restricted to using these long-range missiles within its own borders.
This development follows reports that Ukraine received approval from Washington to strike Russian territory with US-supplied missiles. While the government has declined to comment on the operational details, officials have confirmed that Defence Secretary John Healey spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday evening.
Ministers are expected to proceed cautiously in responding to the reports, mindful of potential Russian retaliation and to avoid the perception that the UK is leading the action. In the UK Parliament, Healey stated, “Ukraine’s actions on the battlefield speak for themselves.”
Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, has not confirmed the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil but emphasized that Ukraine is “using all means to defend our country.”
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also refrained from commenting on the missile use, including whether the US is providing navigational support for UK-supplied weapons. When asked if Ukraine is consulting with the US about the use of these missiles, Miller responded that he would not discuss another country’s weapon use publicly.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly urged Western allies to allow the use of long-range missiles against Russian targets, asserting that this is crucial for ending the conflict. The Storm Shadow missile is particularly suited for striking hardened targets such as bunkers and ammunition depots used by Russia in the war.
The US and UK had previously not given permission, with suggestions this was related to not wanting to escalate the war.
But at the weekend, US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to use the Army Tactical Missile System (Atacms) supplied by the US to strike Russia.
On Sunday Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to the news – which came via briefings from US officials – saying “such things are not announced, missiles speak for themselves”.
The Atacms was then used by Ukraine to target the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine on Tuesday.
The US has also approved sending landmines to Ukraine, in an attempt to slow down Russian troops.
Speaking at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Sir Starmer said the UK would “ensure Ukraine has what is needed for as long as needed”.
Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French cruise missile with a maximum range of around 250km (155 miles). The French call it Scalp.
It is launched from aircraft then flies at close to the speed of sound, hugging the terrain, before dropping down and detonating its high explosive warhead.
BBC Verify showed images on Telegram claiming to show fragments of a Storm Shadow missile in Kursk to weapons experts.
Amael Kotlarski, Weapons Team manager at Janes, said: “We can confirm that the large, rectangular piece of debris, featuring a hole in the centre, does indeed match part of the mounting interface of the Storm Shadow / SCALP EG missile.”
Another expert could not reach a judgement based on the images.
