Britain Clears Use of Donated Weapons Inside Russia for Ukraine, But Storm Shadow Missiles Remain Restricted

Britain has recently announced that Ukraine is permitted to use British-donated weapons within Russian territory. This decision marks a significant shift in the terms of military aid provided by the UK. The British Ministry of Defence clarified on Thursday that while Ukraine can deploy weapons such as tanks and anti-tank missiles inside Russia, the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles remains restricted to within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has launched some of the largest foreign operations on Russian soil since World War II. The goal of these operations, according to Ukrainian officials, is to create a buffer zone to shield their population from further attacks. This strategic move has been described as a "major provocation" by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The decision aligns with statements made by former British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who in May asserted Ukraine's right to utilize British-provided weapons to target sites within Russia. However, until now, the specifics of using these weapons by Ukrainian ground forces on Russian soil had not been officially confirmed by the British government.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence emphasized that Ukraine has a legitimate right to self-defense against Russia’s illegal attacks and that this right includes conducting operations inside Russia. The UK has made it clear that while equipment may be used in line with international law, the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles is strictly limited.

Since August 6, Ukraine has reportedly reclaimed over 1,000 square kilometers (about 390 square miles) of Russian territory, deploying British-supplied Challenger 2 tanks in their operations. Although the Ministry of Defence has not confirmed the specific use of these tanks inside Russia, it is acknowledged that they are part of the broader military assistance provided to Ukraine.

Britain has committed approximately £7.6 billion ($9.77 billion) in military aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. This aid package includes 14 main battle tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition, air defense systems, electronic warfare equipment, and artillery. Despite this extensive support, the UK, along with other Western nations, has thus far refrained from allowing the use of long-range weapons due to concerns over escalating the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has continued to press Western allies to enable long-range missile strikes into Russia, reflecting ongoing tensions and the strategic complexity of the conflict.