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No long-range missiles in the war zone. That has long been the motto of Ukraine’s Western supporters. On Thursday, Britain dared to break the taboo. Several long-range Storm Shadow missiles have arrived in Ukraine, CNN first reported.
The cruise missiles from the Anglo-French cooperation have a range of 560 kilometers. However, Ukraine will receive the version intended for export outside NATO – and will cover a distance of some 300 kilometres. Remarkable when you consider that the missiles delivered so far only have a range of 80 kilometers.
With “Storm Shadow” Ukraine can recapture Crimea
The missiles do not reach from Kiev to Moscow (750 kilometers as the crow flies), but the “Storm Shadows” would change the dynamics on the battlefield. And they could allow Ukraine to recapture Crimea. ETH military expert Marcel Berni (34) explains in an interview with Blick: “The Storm Shadow has the range to penetrate deep into the Russian-occupied territory in eastern Ukraine. They give Kiev a capacity it has been asking for since the beginning of the war.”
In early February, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov (56) said to the EU: “If we could strike from up to 300 kilometers away, the Russian army would not be able to defend itself and would have to capitulate.” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ( 42) made it clear in February: “If the weapons weaken the Russian forces, it will increase our security.”
Does this herald a new chapter in arms shipments from the West? Berni sees the delivery more as an attempt by the West to support Ukraine in its planned counter-offensive, he explained to Blick. “They also want to face the empty threats from the Kremlin,” he explains.
The Kremlin reacted nervously to the report. According to Russian news agencies, spokesman Dmitry Peskov (55) says: “An appropriate response is necessary.” A Russian military expert told the Ria Novosti agency: “The missile is a threat to Russia!”
Britain advances – will the US follow?
Britain also dares to break with the United States, which has so far refused to deliver longer-range missiles. For example, Ukrainian requests for ATACMS missiles for the Himar multi-missile value system went unanswered. Expert Berni cannot predict whether the US will now also deliver the long-awaited ATACMS.
It is not the first time the UK has gone further than the US in the weapons it is willing to send to Ukraine. The British were the first allies to announce that they would send modern Western tanks to Ukraine. In January they promised 14 Challenger 2 tanks before the US announced soon after that they would deliver M-1 Abrams tanks.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
