The United Kingdom has privately endorsed Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles within Russian territory, despite refraining from public declarations to avoid potential disagreements with the United States. This stance highlights the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding military support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Storm Shadow missiles, jointly developed by Matra and British Aerospace, are sophisticated air-launched cruise missiles with a range of approximately 560 km. These low-observable weapons, designed to strike high-value stationary targets, have been in service with the Royal Air Force since 2002 and have seen action in various conflicts.
While the UK government supports the use of these missiles, it has not formally requested US permission, which is typically required due to the involvement of classified American systems. A Whitehall source stated, "We want to have discussions with allies on these sorts of things rather than wanting to push on and do it."
The Biden administration has expressed concerns that the use of Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia could lead to an escalation of the conflict and potentially draw American troops into the fray. This cautious approach from the US has created some tension with the UK, which has historically taken a more proactive stance in providing military equipment to Ukraine.
Earlier in 2024, then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps advocated for strikes on Russian warships in Crimea, while the US maintained a more reserved position. These differing approaches have occasionally strained UK-US relations, with some US officials perceiving Britain's actions as attempts to pressure them into similar decisions.
The Labour Party, led by Sir Keir Starmer, has adopted a "consultative approach" to negotiations with the US on this matter, aiming to avoid diplomatic rows that occurred under previous administrations.
Military experts have raised questions about the current effectiveness of Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. A Whitehall source noted, "The Russians have also got smart on this and the most critical assets have been moved out of range." This adaptation by Russian forces highlights the evolving nature of the conflict and the need for continuous reassessment of military strategies.
In a significant development, Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 27, 2024, that Ukraine had successfully conducted its first test-fire of a domestically-built ballistic missile. This project, known as the Hrim-2 or Sapsan system, has been in development since 2014 and is designed to hit targets at a range of about 300 miles.
"The successful test is good news, but we shouldn't read too much into it. The Sapsan SRBM is likely still several months if not years away from reaching initial operational capability."
This development in Ukraine's domestic missile capabilities could potentially reduce its reliance on Western-supplied long-range strike weapons, especially if restrictions on their use against targets inside Russia persist.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains focused on supporting Ukraine while carefully managing the risk of further escalation in the conflict.