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Ukraine is said to have conducted strikes for the first time outside its borders against targets within Russian territory, using UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The attacks come after the United States decided to grant Kyiv permission to strike Russia using American-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems-known by the acronym ATACMS-a significant shift in the way the West has supported Ukraine’s military strategy so far.
The Storm Shadow missiles are highly accurate weapons capable of reaching well-fortified targets, and at a range of about 250 km-155 miles, they are a joint Anglo-French weapon. Until recently, Ukraine had been barred from deploying such missiles at targets within its territory so as not to escalate the conflict. In the latest policy shift by both the U.S. and UK, deployment against Russian territory has just been authorized.
Although Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would not confirm their use, he said Kyiv is “using all means to defend our country.” The missiles reportedly are ideal for targeting Russian ammunition depots and fortified bunkers. Reports of their use emerged alongside images on social media analyzed by BBC Verify, which experts said likely show fragments of a Storm Shadow missile in Russia’s Kursk region.
The UK government has not confirmed the reports for operational reasons. Defence Secretary John Healey spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart, but he refused to comment on the missile strikes. In the House of Commons, Healey said, “Ukraine’s action on the battlefield speaks for itself.”
The U.S. State Department has also denied confirmation of involvement, as its spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that he would not “speak publicly to the use of another country’s weapons.” This mirrors a cautious tone given the continued sensitivities around the prospect of escalation and the response by Russia to strikes on its soil.(More)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing his Western allies for a long time to greenlight the use of long-range missiles against Russian targets, adding that such measures are crucial for the end of the war. After U.S. approval for ATACMS, Ukraine struck Russia’s Bryansk region earlier this week.
The move to allow the use of Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles marks a turning point in Ukraine’s military campaign-to perhaps shift the dynamics of war. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged continued support, underscoring, “The UK will make sure Ukraine has what is needed for as long as needed,” he said during the G20 summit.