What Are Storm Shadow Missiles and Why Are They Important for Ukraine?

New Delhi: As UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House, one of the top issues on the agenda will be Ukraine's use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles. Discussions are reportedly underway to lift restrictions on these missiles, which Ukraine hopes to use to strike deep into Russian territory. The meeting follows a series of high-level diplomatic efforts between the US and UK, with officials, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, visiting Kyiv earlier this week.

Ukraine has long requested permission to target Russian territory with Storm Shadow missiles, which have so far been restricted to use within Ukraine's borders. While an official announcement has yet to be made, reports suggest that discussions are underway regarding this significant change.

What Are Storm Shadow Missiles?

Storm Shadow missiles are long-range, air-launched cruise missiles with a range of up to 155 miles (250 km). Developed through an Anglo-French partnership, they are designed to penetrate fortified structures such as bunkers, ammunition stores, and airfields. Their precision targeting capabilities make them particularly useful for striking crucial military infrastructure.

Manufactured by MBDA Systems, the missile is known as Storm Shadow in the UK and SCALP-EG in France. It was originally developed in the 1990s by Matra and British Aerospace. Currently, Ukraine uses these missiles on its Russian-made Su-24 bombers, a remnant from its days as part of the Soviet Union.

Although Storm Shadow missiles offer Ukraine the potential to strike deep within Russian territory, their use is tightly regulated by the countries involved in their development and manufacture – the UK, France, Italy, and the US. Changing the terms of use for these weapons would require agreement from all these nations.

Why Does Ukraine Want Storm Shadow Missiles?

Ukraine seeks to use Storm Shadow missiles to defend itself against increasing missile and glide bomb attacks launched from within Russia. While Ukraine has drones and cruise missiles capable of striking Russian targets, their supply is limited, and many are intercepted before reaching their objectives. Kyiv argues that using these long-range missiles against targets inside Russia could help degrade Russia's capacity to launch further attacks.

Recent drone strikes carried out by Ukraine on Russian soil, including one that temporarily shut down three airports in Moscow, have demonstrated Kyiv’s increasing ability to strike behind enemy lines. However, Ukraine’s leadership believes that having the ability to use Storm Shadow missiles would allow it to more effectively neutralize Russian military installations and reduce civilian casualties caused by Russian strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been vocal about his frustrations with Western hesitation in supplying advanced weaponry. Speaking to The Guardian earlier this year, he expressed that delays in delivering such arms had cost lives, allowing Russia to continue its attacks largely unchallenged.

Why Has the West Hesitated to Allow Their Use on Russian Soil?

Western countries have been cautious about allowing Ukraine to use advanced weapons like Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets, fearing that it could provoke a broader conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such a move could escalate the war, saying it would mean NATO was directly involved in fighting Russia.

“This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin said in a recent interview, adding that it would imply that NATO countries were at war with Russia.

Throughout the war, the US and its allies have aimed to provide Ukraine with enough support to defend itself while avoiding actions that could lead to a direct confrontation with Russia.

What Has Changed?

Recent developments have led to a re-evaluation of this cautious approach. Ukraine’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last month shifted the conversation around escalation and the use of long-range weapons. Russia’s receipt of ballistic missiles from Iran has further complicated the situation, prompting strategic discussions in London and Washington.

Ukrainian officials visiting Washington have reportedly presented a list of long-range targets in Russia that they believe could be hit to weaken Russia’s military capacity. While the US had previously argued that Russia was relocating key military assets out of Ukraine's range, it now appears more convinced that there are still valuable targets that could make a significant difference if hit.

Benefits and Risks of Using Storm Shadow Missiles Inside Russia

Allowing Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets could potentially degrade Russia’s ability to launch attacks against Ukrainian territory. This might force Russia to divert resources to defend its own assets, making the war more costly for Moscow.

However, there are risks. A strike causing major civilian casualties within Russia could severely damage Ukraine’s standing with its Western allies and increase the risk of Russian retaliation. Matthew Savill, a director at the defense thinktank RUSI, noted that while Storm Shadow missiles are capable, they may not be as effective as other options like ATACMS missiles with cluster bomblets for taking out fortified airbases.

International Repercussions

A major concern is how Russia would react to Ukraine being allowed to use Storm Shadow missiles against its territory. Moscow has already indicated that such a move could lead to a reevaluation of its nuclear doctrine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov recently stated that Russia may amend its nuclear policy due to the escalating threat from Western-supplied weapons. This has led to international fears that Russia could consider using nuclear weapons if it feels sufficiently threatened.

The Road Ahead

Ukraine's access to Storm Shadow missiles could mark a pivotal moment in the war, potentially shifting the balance of power on the battlefield. The West must now weigh the benefits of helping Ukraine defend itself against the risks of further escalation with Russia.

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify, the world is watching closely. Any decision to allow Ukraine to use Storm Shadow missiles on Russian soil will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for the future of this conflict.