The UK government confirmed on May 11 that it had given Ukraine an undisclosed number of Storm Shadow missiles.
Triple the range of the missiles Ukraine has so far used, the Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of more than 150 miles.
As a result, Ukraine will find it simpler to carry out previously inaccessible precision strikes against Russian high-value targets.
Because there aren't many Storm Shadows left, Ukraine will probably use them primarily to target Russian military equipment inside of occupied territory.
Russian military planners will once more need to think about how to better protect equipment, command and control centers, and logistics situated behind the frontline given the missile's range.
Furthermore, Storm Shadow missiles have the ability to pass through reinforced aircraft hangars, making Russia's airbases in occupied Ukraine more exposed. Ben Barry, a senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, predicts that as a result, Russia may scale back some of its air defenses.
The missile has been fitted to Ukraine's Su-24 Fencer jet fighters from the Soviet era, which is important because it will enable them to launch precise strikes from a safer distance.
The effects of the Storm Shadow missiles might already be apparent.
Russia charged Ukraine on May 12 with using a missile supplied by the UK to strike two industrial sites in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, which is governed by Russia.
These assertions are not corroborated by the BBC.
Ukraine has not officially confirmed any particular Storm Shadow strikes. However, it recently asserted that it had struck the port city of Berdiansk, which is deep within Zaporizhzhia's Southern Eastern region, where the Russian military's headquarters are located.
Since the estimated Ukrainian frontline positions are about 70 miles away from Berdiansk, the previously accessible missiles are no longer effective.
Although the BBC is unable to confirm this attack, it is clear that Ukraine is determined to disrupt Russia's military apparatus. Additionally, Russia's Defense Ministry is now well aware that Ukraine is capable of pursuing longer-range attacks.
With the help of US-supplied Himars rockets in July 2022, Ukraine was able to strike targets up to 50 miles away.
These attacks forced Russia to retreat and spread out its logistics outside of the missile's range.
Russian forces occupying Kherson were forced to cross the Dnipro River after Ukrainian strikes on the Antonivka Road Bridge prevented them from receiving resupplies.
In part, Himars is responsible for the change in Ukrainian strategy toward tactic flexibility a la the West.
Despite having less Storm Shadow missiles than Himars, Ukraine should still be able to disrupt Russia's battle rhythm.
According to J Andrés Gannon, a security specialist at the US Council on Foreign Relations, "If Russia has to devote more resources to protecting command and logistic hubs or decides to pull them further from the frontlines that will significantly slow forward moving operations.". ".
And while Himars have demonstrated excellent performance against stationary targets, they are reportedly unable to hit moving targets, such as ground-based air defenses mounted on vehicles.
Therefore, in advance of a potential counteroffensive, Storm Shadow may help weaken Russian air defenses across occupied parts of Ukraine and undermine Russian air power, making life easier in particular for Ukrainian ground forces.
However, the UK-supplied missile has political limitations. While on paper it can strike targets inside Russia, Ukraine will have decided not to use it against military assets inside the Russian Federation — or even just across the border — in order to prevent the war from escalating.
It is difficult for both Russia and Ukraine to continue fighting in what has evolved into an attrition war.
The West is still committed to helping Ukraine, but it has a limited capacity to provide sophisticated missiles and air defenses.
Ukraine will recall that after the UK promised to send its main battle tank, the Challenger 2, the US and other Western nations also sent tanks to Ukraine.
The Storm Shadow might establish yet another Western standard.
