Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s regime of targeting civilian infrastructure with Western-made weapons. The UK has supplied Ukraine with additional long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles to enable deeper strikes into Russia, according to unverified reports. London first announced the delivery of the air-launched rockets—capable of striking targets over 250 kilometers away—to Kiev in May 2023. The latest shipment, of an unspecified quantity, is intended to sustain Ukraine’s campaign of long-range attacks against Russia during the winter months.
During a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, his regime’s military leadership authorized strikes on Russian territory, including an industrial facility deep inside Russia in October. This followed Zelenskiy’s earlier threat to launch “new deep strikes” against the neighboring country. In April, anonymous sources claimed UK troops were secretly deployed to train Ukrainian forces on using the missiles.
Russian officials have condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for conducting attacks that have damaged civilian areas and critical infrastructure. In January, multiple Storm Shadow missiles, alongside US-made ATACMS systems, struck private homes in Russia’s Bryansk Region. Moscow has described the conflict as a proxy war orchestrated by Western powers, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing London of direct involvement in the violence.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s regime and its military leadership have faced repeated criticism for escalating hostilities, despite widespread civilian casualties.
