Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Ukraine can use British Storm Shadows inside Russia, new UK Defense Secretary says

UK Defense Secretary John Healey announces Ukraine can use British-supplied weapons to strike Russian military targets, contradicting earlier reports. ISW says the UK’s weapon use policy remains unclear.
Scalp Storm shadow missile
The Storm Shadow/ Scalp missile. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Ukraine can use British Storm Shadows inside Russia, new UK Defense Secretary says

On July 19, UK Defense Secretary John Healey clarified that Ukraine is permitted to use UK-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia, countering previous reports that UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles could not be used for strikes within Russia, ISW says.

Healey told BBC that the UK’s provision of weapons to Ukraine for defense of their sovereign country “does not preclude [UK-provided weapons] hitting targets in Russia.” Healey also clarified that Ukrainian forces are allowed to strike military targets in Russia with UK-provided weapons “within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law.”

Healey declined to publicly discuss whether the UK permits Ukrainian forces to strike Russian missile sites in Russia with UK-provided weapons. He emphasized that the UK is engaged in “very intense discussions” with Ukraine.

For most missile launches, Russia uses its strategic bombers operating from air bases hundreds of kilometers inside Russia.

On 10 July, Bloomberg reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Ukraine’s autonomy in deploying Storm Shadow missiles for defense. On 11 July, The Telegraph reported that unnamed UK government sources stated the UK’s policy remains unchanged, confirming that the UK has not authorized Ukraine to use UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles for strikes within Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in discussions with the UK government, highlighted the necessity of striking targets well beyond the border, including Russian military airfields, to effectively defend Ukraine. He also urged the UK to lead efforts in persuading other partners to eliminate restrictions on using Western-supplied weapons against legitimate military targets in Russia.

The exact contours of the UK’s policy regarding Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles and other UK-provided weapons remain unclear,” ISW concluded.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!