The UK has not sent any long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine for several months, likely due to its low stockpiles and a desire to use them more effectively, The Times reported on Sunday, citing sources.
The Guardian reported earlier this month that Ukraine’s relationship with Britain has worsenend since Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government came to power in July. An unnamed Ukrainian official told the paper at the time that one of the most significant signs of the shift was the lack of any new deliveries of Storm Shadow missiles for use in Crimea or other Russian regions that Kiev claims as its own.
As it stands, Ukraine is barred by its backers from using Western-made long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russia.
UK defense sources told The Times that the Labour Party’s stance on the matter likely stems from the fact that “UK stockpiles have reached a level below which military chiefs are not prepared to go,” as some missiles must be kept in reserve to protect London’s own interests.
However, other officials interviewed by the paper believe that the UK is reluctant to hand over Storm Shadows to Kiev before it receives permission to use them for strikes deep into Russia, as this could potentially make the deliveries more effective.
A spokesman for the UK Defense Ministry refused to comment on the current state of the stockpiles, stressing that “the UK’s support for Ukraine is ironclad and the prime minister has been consistently clear that his government will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Ukraine has on numerous occasions used UK and French-developed Storm Shadow missiles for strikes in Crimea and Donbass, with Moscow accusing Kiev of targeting civilian infrastructure.
While Ukraine has been asking its backers for months to allow strikes with foreign-made long-range weapons deep into Russia, it has yet to receive permission, with Western officials expressing concern that this could lead to an escalation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the West reverses its policy on long-range strikes, this “would change the very nature of the conflict” and would be tantamount to the direct involvement of NATO in the conflict.