US allows Ukraine to strike Russia with Storm Shadow missiles – The Times

According to British officials, the United States has authorized Ukraine to utilize Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russia. This decision was influenced by the presence of North Korean troops in the war on the side of the Russian Federation, which was seen as a critical turning point.

The Times reports this.

As stated in the publication, according to a senior government source who had previously privately expressed that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer supports Ukraine's right to use weapons for self-defense.

Moreover, Britain has been putting pressure on the United States on this issue for several months.

The United States initially did not permit the use of its technology for Storm Shadow missiles in Russia, as it was concerned about a possible escalation of the conflict.

According to a source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the "tipping point" came when Russia involved North Korean soldiers, which was regarded as a "significant escalation."

However, Britain has not yet officially confirmed the lifting of the restrictions. The newspaper's interlocutors from Downing Street said there are "excellent operational reasons" why the British government must be careful in its statements not to "give Putin a strategic advantage on the battlefield."

However, Starmer started to reject cautious remarks, hinting that it was just a matter of time before Storm Shadow missiles might be employed in Ukraine.

The Times, citing senior government sources, reported that Starmer's rhetoric was deliberate and hinted that previous Americans' objections to the use of Storm Shadows had already been lifted.

At the same time, Starmer's allies believe that Storm Shadow missiles will not change the situation on Ukraine's battlefield.

For reference:

Storm Shadow/SCALP is a Franco-British long-range air-to-surface aircraft missile. It is designed to hit stationary targets (including, for example, bunkers) that are well protected by air defense systems. It can be used at any time of the day and in any weather conditions. The warhead of the missile weighs 450 kg. Storm Shadow can be installed on Ukrainian Soviet-made jet aircraft.

Depending on the modification, SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles can have a range of 270 to 560 km.

It was reported recently that France and the United Kingdom allowed Ukraine to strike deep into the territory of the Russian Federation using their SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles. The decision was made following the permission of the United States.

The administration of US President Joe Biden also decided to allow Ukraine to use the provided American weapons to strike at Russian territory, namely the ATACMS missiles.

Ukraine has been asking the United States for such permission in recent months to strike at Russian military facilities far from the Ukrainian borders. Previously, the American side had consistently taken a cautious position on this issue.

However, two months before Donald Trump's inauguration, Biden supported Ukraine's request.