British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has announced that the UK has delivered several Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, bolstering Kiev’s defenses as it prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russian forces.
Wallace told lawmakers on Thursday that the decision to donate “long-range, conventional, precision strike capabilities” was an “appropriate” response to Moscow’s escalating all-out invasion of Ukraine.
Stressing that Russia’s airstrikes deliberately targeted Ukraine’s civilian and critical national infrastructure, the defense minister said: “Russia must recognize that their actions alone have resulted in the supply of such systems to Ukraine.”
Kiev welcomes UK delivery of missiles. “Our partners know very well why we need them: by destroying their ammunition depots, command and control centers and logistical chains in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, they can reduce the enemy’s offensive potential,” Ukrainian defense adviser Yury Sak said. “minister.
However, Wallace said that while the Storm Shadow missiles would give Kiev a boost, the systems are “not even in the same league” as Russia’s deadliest weapon deployed in the conflict. These include the AS-24 Killjoy hypersonic missile, Iran’s Shahed “Kamikaze” attack drone and the Kalibr cruise missile with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers, Wallace said.
The Defense Secretary did not disclose the number of Storm Shadow missiles being provided. Wallace appeared to confirm that the air-launched missiles would be launched from Ukrainian jets, saying “studies as to whether it was technically feasible” for such an integration were a factor in Britain’s decision to delay supplying the missiles.
His statement came as Ukraine prepares to retake territory in the south and east, while the Russian military increasingly deploys air-launched guided smart bombs with ranges of up to 70 kilometers, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Ukrainian officials say that despite recent deliveries of armored vehicles, tanks and artillery, the West will be limited in its ability to mount a large-scale counteroffensive without long-range missiles and fighter jets such as the U.S. F16.
A Ukrainian fighter pilot with the call sign “Juice” told the Financial Times that Ukraine needed F16s and long-range missiles to help retake territory. Stormshadow resupply “is a critical part of a successful counteroffensive … . . and this long-range capability will go a long way,” he said.
“But we need parity in the air and all of these factors to make our ground forces (counteroffensive) more effective and safer,” Juice added.
The UK, which has provided more than £2.3bn of military aid to Ukraine so far, sees itself in the vanguard of Western allies boosting Kiev’s capabilities. The UK has donated thousands of short- and long-range missiles to Ukraine, as well as main battle tanks and vehicles equipped with Starlight missile launchers.
Export versions of the Storm Shadow missiles cost around £2m each to produce and can reach targets some 250km away. By comparison, the US-supplied Himars-launched precision GMLRS missile has a range of about 75 km, while the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) can hit targets up to 145 km away.
Kiev sought longer-range missiles to strike enemy forces, logistics centers and air bases deep within the front lines. But the U.S. has been reluctant to offer tactical systems such as ATACMS, which has a range of about 300 kilometers, for fear that allowing Ukraine to launch a cross-border strike against Russia could escalate the conflict. Allies have also rejected Kiev’s call to send fighter jets.
Britain has taken a different stance. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised in February that Britain would be the first country to fire a long-range missile at Kiev. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told MPs in April that military aid was provided “on the condition that it will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law”.
It was one of the first countries to send anti-tank missiles to Kiev early last year, and its decision in January to send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks set a precedent before Germany and the United States agreed to send their own main battle tanks, the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams.