UK sends Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine for strikes on Russia

The United Kingdom is sending Ukraine an additional batch of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to enable Ukrainian forces to strike Russian military targets and disrupt preparations for attacks on civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.

Bloomberg reported this on October 15, citing three informed sources.

According to the agency, the replenishment of Ukrainian Storm Shadow stocks was discussed during the meeting between British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in London on October 14.

The British side views long-range strikes on Russian military assets used in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure as a defensive measure.

Bloomberg's sources explained that additional supplies are necessitated by intensified Russian air attacks. They said that in recent weeks Russia has ramped up production of jet-propelled drones and missiles to increase the intensity of strikes against Ukraine.

London believes it is important to give Kyiv the ability to counter such operations, including by hitting military facilities that support Russian attacks.

At the same time, the United Kingdom does not share the position of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which demands that Ukraine stop striking Russian territory.

According to the agency's sources, the British government does not think Kyiv should renounce long-range attacks as long as Moscow continues to strike Ukraine.

This stance is especially important against the backdrop of worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump previously demanded that Zelensky stop attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking them to rising fuel prices.

However, on October 15, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil infrastructure after continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

The British government declined to comment on Bloomberg's information about new Storm Shadow deliveries. The number of missiles being transferred and the timeline for completion of delivery are not being disclosed.

Storm Shadow is a precision-guided air-launched cruise missile with a range of over 250 kilometers. The United Kingdom has provided such missiles to Ukraine since 2023. They allow strikes on military targets at a considerable distance from the front line.

The new reports of deliveries came after London announced the acceleration of transfers of LMM air defense missiles to Ukraine to counter Russian jet-propelled drones. The relevant agreements were presented during Zelensky's visit to the United Kingdom.

Moreover, back in August, the British government agreed to allow the manufacturer MBDA to provide Ukraine with technical information about British components of the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles. This is intended to help organize their assembly on Ukrainian territory.

Thus, London is simultaneously supporting the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense and maintaining the long-range capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, information about a new batch of Storm Shadow is so far based on Bloomberg sources, not on an official announcement by the British government.

Based on materials from: Bloomberg, European Pravda, UK Government.