London, May 11: The UK government on Thursday confirmed that it is supplying long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine in support of its counter-offensive in the conflict with Russia.
The Storm Shadow missiles being “donated” to Ukraine are described as having conventional precision strike capability and complement the long-range systems provided by international partners such as the US.
The UK said the supply will help Ukraine push back Russian forces from its territories.
“Today, I can confirm that the UK has donated Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. Storm Shadow is a long-range conventional precision strike capability,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement to the House of Commons.
“The donation of these weapon systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality. Especially, the deliberate targeting of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, which is against international law. Ukraine has a right to be able to defend itself against this. Their use of Storm Shadow will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian Sovereign Territory,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for such weapons for a long time since the country’s conflict with Russia broke out last year. (PTI)
