Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The UK is currently facing a tough decision on whether or not to allow Ukraine to use British-made Storm Shadow missiles to hit military targets within Russia. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has been seeking permission to use US-made long-range missiles, known as ATACMS, to penetrate Russian bunkers and ammunition stores. On Sunday, the White House changed its mind and granted Ukraine permission to use these missiles, which paves the way for Ukraine to use Storm Shadow with fewer restrictions – something Ukraine has been requesting for months.
Storm Shadow missiles, like their French equivalent known as SCALP, have already been sent to Ukraine in limited quantities. So far, they have only been used against targets inside Ukraine’s borders, including against Russian-occupied Crimea, such as hitting Russia’s Black Sea naval headquarters at Sevastopol. The missiles are launched from an aircraft, flying close to the speed of sound, and carry highly explosive warheads, making them an ideal weapon for penetrating Russian bunkers and ammunition stores.
Protracted discussions about firing Storm Shadow missiles deep into Russia were raised during July’s Nato summit in Washington where the UK’s Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, insisted the missiles were for defensive purposes and stated that “it’s up to Ukraine to decide how to deploy it.” Professor Justin Bronk from defence think tank, the Royal United Services Institute, believes that US President Joe Biden’s belated decision to allow long-range strikes with ATACMS ballistic missiles will also enable Storm Shadow to be used in at least the same way as US objections will presumably have been dropped for them.
However, UK Defence Secretary John Healey has been keeping tight-lipped about the UK’s position and insists that publicly discussing such matters only helps Russia. The fear is that allowing Ukraine to hit targets deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missiles could provoke a major escalation. Putin has warned that such a move would put Nato “at war” with Russia. Nevertheless, the British Government remains committed to supporting Ukraine and is continuing to work in close coordination with the US in its support for Ukraine
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.