Despite Ukraine’s appeals, Western countries, including the US and the UK, have restricted Ukraine’s use of their long-range weapons like ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles to prevent deep strikes inside Russia, allegedly aiming to avoid escalation. Amid ongoing Russian offensive actions all across the front line in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast more than a week ago, now controlling significant parts of two districts in the region.
Earlier, The Times reported that the US is preventing Britain from allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles in Russia. According to The Times, the UK government approached the US over a month ago with a request to relax restrictions on Ukraine’s use of its long-range weapons. However, this request has yet to receive a response, and the issue has effectively “stuck in their system,” a UK government source told The Times.
Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have argued that the missiles would enable Ukraine to strike key targets behind the front lines, such as airfields, ammunition storage depots, and Russian command posts. Kyiv is particularly keen to prevent Russian jets from firing glide-bombs.
Related:
- The Times: UK awaits US approval for Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles in Russia
- UK didn’t allow Storm Shadow use in Ukraine’s Kursk offensive
- Ukraine releases first-ever combat footage of Storm Shadow missile launch
- UK clarifies stance on Storm Shadow missiles, denies permission for use in Russia
- Ukraine can use British Storm Shadows inside Russia, new UK Defense Secretary says
- Capturing four Ukrainian regions could cost Russia 1.8 million troops, UK army chief says
- Russian, Belarus software developers could aid Moscow spy on British submarines
