The United Kingdom shadow defense minister James Cartlidge had recently submitted an inquiry about the government's current position of Ukraine on the use of British weapons to strike inside russia, specifically mentioning the Storm Shadow cruise missiles. A week later, the answer was given:
"There has been no change in the UK's position on Storm Shadow. I am sure that the hon. Member will understand that I will not go into further detail," Luke Pollard, Deputy Secretary of Defense responded. "We are clear that equipment provided by the UK is intended for the defense of Ukraine."
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Defense Express reminds that the confusion regarding whether Ukraine can use Storm Shadow land attack cruise missiles for strikes on the russian territory was caused by media statements. The newly elected Prime Minister of Great Britain, Keir Starmer, allegedly granted Ukraine permission, causing an "uncomfortable diplomatic moment" between the top-level officials of the two countries.
I held my first meeting with the new UK Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer.I thanked Prime Minister Starmer for all the UK’s military and financial assistance provided to our country. This morning, I learned about the permission to use Storm Shadow missiles against military targets… pic.twitter.com/zEHHpLh105— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 10, 2024
Subsequently, the UK Ministry of Defense refuted the Prime Minister's comments and outlined Ukraine's limits for using this long-range weapon: the occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea. However, permission to strike directly on the territory of the russian federation could lead to an "escalation" of the conflict and involve the United Kingdom in a direct confrontation with russia, the officials said.
Still, the uncertainty around the issue persists, largely due to UK officials' refusing to discuss the sensitive topic in public. In an interview to BBC Radio 4, Defense Secretary John Healey said the delivery of the missiles "does not preclude" Ukraine from using them to hit targets inside russia.
"We’re providing weapons to Ukraine for their defense of their sovereign country," Healey said, as quoted by The Telegraph. "And that does not preclude them hitting targets in russia. But that must be done by the Ukrainians, it must be done within the parameters and the bounds of international humanitarian law."
This vague stance might lead to the United Kingdom eventually allowing to use Storm Shadow's full potential but for now, it remains a no-go for the Ukrainian Defense Forces, relying solely on its own developments to reach deeper within russia for strikes on strategic aviation airfields and oil industry facilities.
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