Storm Shadows ‘fired into Russia by Ukraine’ as UK joins US in defying Putin

Ukrainian forces have launched British-made Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia, openly challenging Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats.

For the first time, Kyiv’s forces launched about 12 long-range missiles in the Kursk region of Russia.

The UK government had previously given the green light for their use, but the rollout was delayed by Washington, as the weapons depend on US navigation equipment to locate their targets.

Last weekend, President Joe Biden authorized the use of US-made ATACMS long-range missiles, and it is anticipated that the nod was also given for Storm Shadow missiles.

Although British Challenger 2 tanks played a role in the invasion of Kursk in Ukraine during the summer, this incident marks what is thought to be the first time a British missile has been used on Russian soil.

This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer committed to providing Ukraine with the necessary resources to succeed in its fight against Russia and emphasized that Britain would intensify its support as winter approaches.

However, Britain's growing participation in the war against Russia will heighten concerns that the UK might become entangled in a worldwide conflict.

The announcement about the deployment of Storm Shadows coincided with Defence Secretary John Healey addressing the Commons, where he revealed plans to reduce the British military's equipment budget by £500 million. This reduction includes phasing out two ex-Royal Navy flagship vessels, a frigate, two support tankers, as well as drones and helicopters.

Conservative Members of Parliament cautioned that the reductions could leave the UK more exposed. However, the government maintained that the vessels and gear were obsolete. Healey acknowledged, though, that it was a “challenging choice” to implement these budget cuts.

Russian bloggers shared images on Telegram that displayed metal fragments marked with the words "Storm Shadow" found in the village of Marino in Kursk.

There were also claims that the missiles aimed at a command center where Russian and North Korean troops were based during their military efforts to counter Ukraine's invasion of Kursk last summer.

The arrival of the Storm Shadows occurred just a day after Putin approved a protocol that reduces the conditions under which Moscow could use nuclear weapons.

The UK's endorsement of Ukraine's use of the missiles might have come before that agreement, but it still demonstrates a rejection of Putin's warnings.

However, Western officials largely see Putin's threats regarding nuclear weapons as empty talk intended to discourage military support for Ukraine.

Healey, along with Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence, did not refute claims that the missiles had been put into action.

In the House of Commons, the shadow defense secretary, James Cartlidge, brought up a procedural matter, inquiring if the ministers were planning to address the reports with a statement.

Mr. Healey addressed the House of Commons, stating, "In recent weeks, we've witnessed considerable shifts in both the efforts and the language surrounding Ukraine, and the actions taken by Ukraine on the battlefield are a clear testament to that."

“As a country and a government, we are committed to increasing our support for Ukraine and are resolute in our efforts to do even more.”

The Defence Secretary informed the House of Commons that he couldn’t provide additional details regarding Britain's ongoing support for Ukraine when questioned about the use of Storm Shadows.

On Tuesday, Healey met with Rustem Umerov, his counterpart from Ukraine, to talk about how Kyiv is responding strongly to Russia's recent increased aggression, which included one of the largest airstrikes of the conflict.

He mentioned, "I spoke with Minister Umarov yesterday during a call, where he highlighted Ukraine's strong reaction to the recent increases in Russian aggression. This includes the heightened attacks on Ukrainian cities and vulnerable children, the intensified assaults on their energy infrastructure, and the deployment of 10,000 North Korean troops to the front lines."

"We also talked about our intentions as the UK to assist them over the course of 2025."

The increase in tensions followed alerts that Russia is determined to engage in "hybrid warfare" against Western nations, especially after it was believed that Moscow sabotaged undersea fiber optic cables in the Baltic Sea earlier this week.

The UK is set to enhance the safeguarding of its underwater facilities as part of the Strategic Defence Review scheduled for release next spring.

This week, Defence Minister Luke Pollard addressed the Commons, stating clearly that the UK and its military are committed to safeguarding our essential underwater cables. He emphasized that there is a strategy in place, supported by our armed forces, and that we are collaborating with our allies to ensure their protection.

Earlier this week, President Biden approved Ukraine's use of long-range missiles to strike targets within Russia, following months of advocacy from President Zelensky.

The U.S. ATACMs were the first to be deployed, targeting an ammunition depot in Kursk on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Western officials noted that the stationing of North Korean soldiers in Kursk—reportedly up to 12,000 who are getting ready to join a counteroffensive in response to Ukrainian progress in that Russian area—has shifted their perspective.

Up to this point, American Atacms and British Storm Shadows have only been deployed in Kursk, indicating that their use is restricted to this particular area.

The aim of this would be to caution North Korea against becoming more directly involved in the conflict (since they have been providing ammunition) and to assist Ukraine in retaining Kursk as a negotiating tool in any potential peace discussions when Donald Trump takes office as president in January.

"I believe that this will likely be included as a suggestion in the strategic defense review set to be released next year."

When questioned about concerns regarding Russia potentially engaging in a "hybrid war," a spokesperson from No. 10 responded, "In light of any comments from Russia and Putin's government, we want to emphasize that we remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine and its right to defend itself against this unlawful invasion."

The UK embassy in Kyiv stayed operational on Wednesday, even though the United States had temporarily shut down their embassy because of a warning regarding a possible serious airstrike.

In reaction to the reductions in defense spending, Sir Julian Lewis, the former Conservative chairman of both the intelligence and security committee as well as the defense committee, described it as a “dark day” for the Royal Marines. He also pointed out that the two warships, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, have about ten years of service remaining.

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith characterized the global situation as "extremely unstable" and "hazardous." He cautioned that the current state of the world is "riskier than at any point I can remember."

Ben Wallace, who previously served as the defense secretary, expressed to i: “Unless there are replacements and a schedule for reaching 2.5 percent of GDP on defense spending, these announcements are merely cuts rather than retirements.”

Healey emphasized that the reductions were essential because of the “severe legacy” left behind by the Conservatives, and stated that the two warships were unseaworthy.

He mentioned that the savings would remain with the Ministry of Defence instead of being sent back to the Treasury. He also stated that the upcoming defense review would ensure that the UK military is prepared for future challenges.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, the Labour chair of the Defence Select Committee, expressed his support for the retirement of outdated equipment and the move towards newer technology. However, he also raised concerns about why this decision was made prior to the release of the strategic defence review.