Ukraine is requesting permission from Western allies to deploy long-range Storm Shadow missiles against targets deep within Russia, believing that such a move could push Moscow toward negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. High-ranking officials in Kyiv suggest that a strategic attack using these Anglo-French missiles could demonstrate Ukraine's capability to strike military sites near Moscow, potentially forcing the Kremlin to reconsider its position.
A senior Ukrainian government official indicated that Russia might only be willing to negotiate if it perceives a credible threat to its major cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, this strategy carries significant risks and has yet to gain the support of the United States.
For months, Ukraine has lobbied for the authorization to use Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory but has faced resistance. With its military forces struggling on the eastern front, there is a growing belief in Kyiv that a counter-attack using these missiles could be their best option.
On Saturday, during Ukraine’s Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to retaliate against Russia's full-scale invasion, which began 913 days ago in February 2022. He vowed that Ukraine would respond with "worthy, symmetrical, and long-range" strikes to any threats from Russia.
Some Ukrainian strategists believe that demonstrating their ability to strike deep within Russian territory could change the calculus in the Kremlin. Kyiv has recently launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk province, claiming control over 1,250 square kilometers (483 square miles) of territory. However, Ukraine's advance has slowed near Pokrovsk in the Donbas, where Russian forces are gaining ground.
Storm Shadow missiles, developed through an Anglo-French collaboration, are manufactured by the European joint venture MBDA. Despite the missiles being primarily European-made, U.S. approval is required for their use inside Russia due to American-supplied components. Washington has so far refused, fearing an escalation of the conflict.
Zelenskyy has argued that Ukraine’s recent incursions into Russia show that Kremlin warnings about crossing "red lines" are exaggerated. While Russia has downplayed these attacks, referring to them as "counter-terrorism operations," Kyiv remains determined to press its advantage.
Ukrainian forces have also conducted a series of drone attacks on Russian territory, including strikes on Moscow and the Marinovka airbase near Volgograd. Kyiv hopes these drone operations, which are relatively low-cost, can diminish Russia's aerial capabilities, particularly its fleet of Su-34 and Su-35 jets.
Despite the drone strikes, some Ukrainian officials believe that the real impact would come from demonstrating the ability to strike deep inside Russia with missiles like Storm Shadow. However, few expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to be swayed into ending the conflict.
Former UK defense attaché John Foreman advised Ukraine to focus on defending the Donbas rather than becoming overly fixated on the use of Storm Shadow missiles. He warned that Russia appears intent on wearing down Ukraine through attrition, with an estimated 600,000 Russian troops currently inside the country.
Ukraine is believed to have received the export version of Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 190 miles. However, the domestic versions in the UK and France have double that range, putting Moscow within reach from Ukraine's northern border. Despite this, the UK has not formally requested U.S. permission to use the missiles inside Russia, with the UK Ministry of Defence reiterating its belief in Ukraine's "clear right of self-defense."
As Ukraine marks the 33rd anniversary of its independence from the former Soviet Union, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed the UK's support, stating that the UK would back Ukraine "today and always."
In a separate development, Russia and Ukraine exchanged more than 100 prisoners of war on Saturday. Ukraine announced the release of 115 of its servicemen, many of whom were conscripts captured in the early months of the invasion, including 50 soldiers taken during the siege of Mariupol's steelworks. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry confirmed the return of 115 Russian soldiers captured in Ukraine’s recent offensive in the Kursk region. These soldiers are currently in Belarus and will be transferred to Russia for medical treatment.
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