UK’s missiles could be a game changer for Ukraine in Crimea.

British Long-Range Cruise Missiles Raise Hope for Ukraine’s Counteroffensive

Game Changer for Ukraine’s Counteroffensive

A promised influx of British long-range cruise missiles is raising hope in Kyiv that Western powers will equip Ukrainian forces to reclaim Crimea, which Russia annexed at the start of the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Chairman Alexander Merezhko believes that these missiles are crucial to liberate Crimea and destroy the Kerch Bridge leading to it. The British gift could wreak havoc on Russian defenses during the campaign and give Ukrainian forces a chance to hit Russian ammunition depots behind the front line.

• The United Kingdom’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles were designed for British and French warplanes but have been modified to be fired from Ukrainian MiG-29s.
• Their reported range of about 155 miles provides an extensive upgrade over the American HIMARS and other artillery that Western states have provided since last summer.

Former Ambassador Bill Taylor believes that the provision of these long-range weapons will help the counteroffensive dramatically. It allows the Ukrainians to attack into Crimea and Russian targets well behind the lines into Donbas.

Managing Expectations Ahead of the Counteroffensive

Ukrainian officials have tried to manage expectations ahead of the counteroffensive, in part out of a misgiving that a failure to achieve their aims could diminish the Western appetite to provide more aid. Standard military doctrine acknowledges that offensive operations are more difficult than defense, but Ukrainian and Western observers hope that dynamic will be offset by the difficulty that Russia will face in establishing adequate defenses along the entire line.

The long-range missiles should make Ukrainian forces more effective in preventing Russian commanders from reinforcing their embattled troops after the counteroffensive begins. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace declined to say how many Storm Shadows have been given to Ukraine.

Encouraging the United States and Other Western Powers

Ukrainian lawmaker Alexander Merezhko hopes that these missiles could be not only a game changer but “a good precedent” that encourages the United States and other Western powers to open their long-range arsenals. These long-range missiles help to save lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

As the Ukrainian counteroffensive begins, the world watches with bated breath to see if these long-range missiles will be the key to liberating Crimea and ending the war in Ukraine.