The United Kingdom supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles to fight the Russian invasion, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced.
The decision to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles was made after repeated pleas from the country, with Wallace stating that the missiles would give Ukraine the ability "to push back Russian forces" grounded on its "sovereign territory," the BBC reported.
The measure comes as Ukrainian forces prepare for a counteroffensive to retake Kremlin-held territory in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the need for more Western military aid to arrive in the country before launching its counteroffensive in the Russia-Ukraine war.
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In a recent interview, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that while the current supplies are enough to move forward and potentially succeed, waiting for more aid is necessary to avoid unacceptable losses.
Armored vehicles, including tanks, are among the supplies that Ukraine is still waiting for, with President Zelensky noting that they are arriving in batches.
How Powerful Are Shadow Missiles?
The long-range, air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missile was jointly developed by British Aerospace and a French company, carrying a 450kg conventional warhead and boasting an impressive range of up to 200 miles (300km), according to Sky News.
The Storm Shadow cruise missiles can be launched from aircraft, enabling Ukrainian pilots to stay away from the frontlines. Once launched, the missile drops to a low altitude to evade radar and locks onto targets using an infrared seeker.
With the ability to strike deep into Russian-held territory in Eastern Ukraine, the deployment of the Storm Shadow missile provides a capability that Ukraine has been requesting since the outset of the Russia-Ukraine war.
A high-ranking US military source called the missile "a real game changer from a range perspective" and a considerable enhancement to Ukraine's 49-mile maximum range, per a CNN report.
Despite concerns that the Storm Shadow missile could be used to launch strikes inside Russia, the UK has reportedly received assurances from the Ukrainian government that the cruise missiles will only be used within Ukrainian sovereign territory.
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