Media: UK sends additional Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine Under PM Keir Starmer

The UK has recently supplied Ukraine with dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, marking the first such delivery under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The move aligns with his pledge to maintain strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, according to individuals familiar with the matter, Caliber.Az reports per Bloomberg.

The unpublicised delivery took place several weeks ago, following reports that Kyiv was running low on these long-range missiles.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed the transfer occurred before the UK and the US authorised Ukraine to target locations within Russia with long-range weapons. Exact delivery dates and quantities were not disclosed, citing operational security.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated: "We do not comment on operational detail, to do so would only benefit [Russian President] Vladimir Putin." They added that Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine remains “ironclad.”

Thus, Ukrainian forces recently employed the UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets within Russia for the first time. This operation followed the deployment of US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to target a military facility in the Bryansk region.

The decision by London and Washington to allow such strikes came in response to Russia’s reported deployment of North Korean troops to bolster its efforts in Ukraine, according to officials from both governments. Analysts also view the move as an attempt by US President Joe Biden and his allies to fortify Ukraine’s position ahead of potential peace talks next year, amid President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to swiftly end the conflict.

Meanwhile, speaking at the G20 summit in Brazil on November 20, Prime Minister Starmer reaffirmed his government’s unwavering support for Ukraine. “We are doubling down on our commitment to Ukraine,” he said, though he did not elaborate further.

Storm Shadow missiles are precision-guided, air-launched weapons with a range exceeding 250 kilometres. They navigate at high speeds close to the terrain, using a mix of inertial navigation, GPS, and terrain-reference navigation, as outlined by their manufacturer, MBDA.

While the UK government has not disclosed the total number of Storm Shadow missiles supplied to Ukraine, they have been used previously against Russian forces, including in the Black Sea. The last confirmed delivery occurred in April, during Rishi Sunak's tenure as prime minister.

By Aghakazim Guliyev