UK refuses Ukraine’s request to deploy Storm Shadow missiles for Kursk region attack – The Telegraph

Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's attempts to remove limitations on using Storm Shadow missiles, London's stance remains the same. The British government did not grant Ukraine's military permission to employ these weapons for an attack in the Kursk region.

The Telegraph reports this.

As a source in the British government reported: "No changes have taken place." London continues to deny Kyiv permission to use them.

Storm Shadow missiles, which range approximately 250 kilometers, could enable the Ukrainian army to target airfields and logistics centers that Russia utilizes to bolster its presence in the Kursk region.

It's worth mentioning that Zelensky requested Sir Keir Starmer's support in lifting restrictions during his visit to Great Britain last month.

According to ex-British tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, the Storm Shadow can target "railway junctions and major roads leading to Kursk, as well as all airports within a 100-mile radius."

He also added that permission to use these missiles would show the determination of the West to support Ukraine.

However, the position on the use of missiles does not depend solely on Great Britain since the Storm Shadow is produced jointly with France. Thus, Paris also has the right to vote on the terms of its application.

In addition, Ukraine has asked the US to allow the use of ATACMS long-range missiles to attack the Kursk region but has so far been refused.

It's important to mention that once Germany provides weapons to Ukraine, they become Ukraine's property and can be used as deemed necessary and appropriate by Kyiv.

However, this does not apply to the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius believes this issue can be left out of Kyiv's basic defense needs.

For reference:

Countries that backed Kyiv in terms of using Western weapons on Russian territory:

• Sweden allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to attack the Russian Federation.
• Poland supported Ukraine's right to use Western weapons to attack Russia.
• The Czech Republic supported using partners' weapons for defense in the aggressor's territory.
• The Netherlands supported strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation with Western weapons.
• Ukraine can attack the territory of the Russian Federation with the help of weapons provided by Finland.
• Moreover, permission to use the transferred weapons for attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation was supported by the Baltic states.
• The Biden administration eased its longstanding policy of banning Ukraine from using American weapons against targets within Russia. However, some restrictions still apply.