The United Kingdom has officially confirmed its provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, fulfilling the latter’s request for support in its battle against Russian forces.

The Storm Shadow cruise missile, boasting a range of over 250km (155 miles), will significantly enhance Ukraine’s capabilities compared to the US-supplied Himars missiles, which have a range of approximately 80km (50 miles).

The extended range of the Storm Shadow enables Ukrainian pilots to operate from a safer distance away from the frontlines. Once launched, the missile maneuvers at low altitudes to evade enemy radar and utilizes an infra-red seeker to strike its target.

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The announcement was made by UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in the House of Commons, following repeated pleas from Ukraine for additional weaponry from Western nations.

Wallace emphasized that these missiles would enable Ukraine to push back against Russian forces encroaching on Ukrainian sovereign territory.

The decision came in response to Russia’s continuous targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, prompting the UK to warn of potential consequences and the possibility of providing more advanced weaponry.

Wallace stressed that the donation of these missile systems affords Ukraine the best chance of defending itself against Russian aggression.

He confirmed that the missiles were already in the possession of Ukrainian forces and characterized the move as a measured response to Russia’s escalations.

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However, he cautioned that the Storm Shadows’ range does not match the capabilities of Russia’s own missile systems, some of which have much greater distances.

Referring to Ukrainian sources, Wallace accused Russia of committing 70,000 war crimes in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

These crimes encompassed the deportation and internment of children, as well as the bombing of civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov previously stated that longer-range missiles would not be employed against targets within Russia itself, assuring that Ukraine would guarantee the weapons’ non-involvement in attacks on Russian territory.

The Kremlin responded by indicating that it would take an appropriate military response if Ukrainian forces used the British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

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The Storm Shadow has previously been utilized by both the British and French air forces and has seen action in conflicts in the Gulf, Iraq, and Libya.

While the UK’s missiles can only be launched from aircraft, French missiles have the capability to be fired from ships and submarines.