UK boosts Kyiv’s long-range strike capability with dozens of Storm Shadow missiles
Dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles were secretly delivered by London to Kyiv several weeks ago before the long-range strikes on Russian territory were allowed by the U.S., UK, and France, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 26.
It was the first shipment of missiles by the Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The exact dates and quantities of the deliveries, which were not publicly announced, remain undisclosed for operational security reasons. They were made on Kyiv’s request, which ran out of long-range missiles.
“We do not comment on operational details, as this would only benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin,” the British Defense Ministry said in response to a journalist’s request, adding that London remains “ironclad” in its support for Ukraine.
The decision to authorize the strikes was reportedly a response to the Kremlin’s deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.
Britain’s last known delivery of missiles to Ukraine was under Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in April 2024.
On Nov. 20, the Ukrainian Air Force likely launched Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles at the village of Maryine in Kursk Oblast. A critical military communications hub was targeted in the first strike inside Russian territory with Western long-range missiles.
