Ukraine is understood to have fired a volley of British-designed Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia for the first time.
They are latest Western weapons Ukraine has used on Russian targets, coming a day after it fired US ATACMS missiles across the border following the granting of permission by President Joe Biden at the weekend.
Although the strikes have been widely reported by Russian war correspondents on Telegram, they have not been confirmed by either the UK or Ukrainian authorities.
The UK began supplying Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, to aid in its continuing fight against Russia’s invasion, in 2023.
The then Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said at the time the missiles would give Ukrainians the “best chance to defend themselves” as Russia continues its “deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which is against international law”.
And he insisted it was the actions of Russia alone that “have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine” and stressed “this is a calibrated and proportionate response to Russia’s escalations”.
What are Storm Shadow missiles?
Manufacturer MBDA says the Storm Shadow missile has a range in excess 150 miles, three times further than US-supplied Himars missiles which were previously used by Ukraine and have a 50-mile range.
The missiles are fired from aircraft and are understood to be compatible with Ukraine’s existing Soviet-era planes.
After they are launched, they descend to a lower altitude to avoid radar detection and hone in on their target using an infra-red seeker.
Each missile costs around more than £700,000, so are often deployed as alongside a mass drone attack.
Initially developed by French company by Matra and British Aerospace in 1994, they are now made by MBDA, a missile manufacturer based in Paris.
They have been deployed in conflict zones in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.
Despite these missiles being an upgrade on the previous projectiles, Mr Wallace warned when supply to Ukraine began that they were still “not in the same league” as Russia’s own missile systems.
When did the UK send Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine?
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed in May 2023 he and the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had agreed to authorise donation of the missiles after continued Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Mr Wallace had written to the Russian defence secretary Sergei Shoigu in December 2022, warning further attacks could lead to the UK providing more powerful weapons to Ukraine.
Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 May last year, he said: “Today I can confirm that the UK is donating Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.
“Storm Shadow is a long-range, conventional-only, precision-strike capability. It complements the long-range systems already gifted, including Himars and Harpoon missiles, as well as Ukraine’s own Neptune cruise missile.”
He added: “The donation of these weapons systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality, especially the deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which is against international law. Ukraine has a right to be able to defend itself against this.”
The UK’s provision of long-range missiles fulfils a pledge made by the Prime Minister in February that year. “Together we must help Ukraine to shield its cities from Russian bombs and Iranian drones,” he said at the time. “That’s why the United Kingdom will be the first country to give Ukraine longer-range weapons.”
Labour welcomed the announcement, with the then shadow Defence Secretary John Healey saying Storm Shadow “will strengthen Ukraine’s fight to repel the Russian forces”.
He added: “We are united in our determination to help in the defence of Ukraine and of our shared values. We welcome this vital new military support as the Ukrainians prepare for their expected counter-offensive.”
At that time, Mr Sunak is understood to have received assurances from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the missiles would not be used for anything other than defensive purposes.
However, this reportedly included the missiles being used to destroy President Vladimir Putin’s supply lines, and as part of the counter-offensive to take back Russian occupied territory, including Crimea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said then that Moscow would take an “appropriate” military response to any Storm Shadow missiles used by Ukraine.
When has Ukraine used Storm Shadow missiles?
Ukraine is believed to have used the Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian troops and supply depots behind the front lines, ahead of its counteroffensive last year.
In August last year, they were reported to have been used in the attack on the Chongar Strait railway bridge near the border between Ukraine and the Russian annexed Crimean peninsula.
In this most recent attack, the target is believed to have been a military communications hub.
The strikes were widely reported by Russian war correspondents on Telegram and confirmed to news agency Reuters by an official on condition of anonymity.
The pro-Russian Two Majors Telegram channel said Ukraine had fired up to 12 Storm Shadows into the Kursk region, and carried pictures of pieces of missile with the name Storm Shadow clearly visible.
Moscow has said the use of Western weapons to strike into Russian territory would be a major escalation in the conflict.
Kyiv has said it needs the capability to defend itself, so it can target Russian rear bases used to support the invasion.
