The United Kingdom has discreetly supplied dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine in recent weeks, even before Western allies formally approved the use of long-range weapons to target Russian territory, Bloomberg News claimed.

The shipment marks the first such resupply under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration. The UK has refrained from disclosing specific details about the transfer, including the exact number of missiles delivered or the date of shipment. 

This covert resupply effort comes at a crucial moment as Ukrainian forces face a critical shortage of long-range missiles amid ongoing intensified attacks against Russian military targets. 

Sources familiar with the matter, though unwilling to reveal specific details for operational security reasons, confirmed the missiles were delivered several weeks ago, before the public announcement allowing Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike inside Russia. 

Ukrainian forces have already deployed Storm Shadows in attacks on Russian military installations, including a strike last week on facilities in Kursk. 

The decision to approve the use of such long-range weapons follows heightened concerns over Moscow’s deployment of North Korean troops to support its forces in Ukraine. 

Sources did not disclose the exact number of Storm Shadows delivered. Still, they added that the timing of the transfer was strategic, aimed at improving Ukraine’s missile capabilities as the war enters a more dangerous phase. 

The UK has traditionally been tight-lipped about the exact quantities of military aid supplied to Ukraine. The last confirmed shipment of Storm Shadow missiles occurred in April under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration. 

At the G20 summit in Brazil on November 20, Prime Minister Starmer reiterated the UK’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine, stating that Britain was “doubling down” on its support for Kyiv. However, he refrained from revealing additional details about future military assistance. 

This speech came just a day after a Storm Shadow missile strike successfully targeted a command facility in Mariino, a village in Russia’s Kursk region, resulting in a large number of casualties among Russian forces.

According to reports, around 500 North Korean soldiers were killed in the strike, and a North Korean general was injured. 

UK’s Storm Shadow Missiles Help Ukraine Target North Korean Troops

The United Kingdom’s recent delivery of dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine has been revealed to be a critical component in targeting Russian and North Korean forces, as Western officials confirm intensified efforts to disrupt Moscow’s buildup in the Kursk region. 

Officials have indicated that Ukraine’s long-range strikes aim to neutralize not only Russian infrastructure but also the deployment of North Korean troops, who have reportedly been integrated into Moscow’s operations in the region. These North Korean forces, numbering in the thousands, have become a key element in Russia’s defensive buildup. 

The Storm Shadow, an Anglo-French missile developed by British defense giant BAE Systems, is designed for precision strikes against hardened infrastructure, such as underground bunkers. 

Equipped with an 880-pound Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge warhead, the missile has a range of approximately 155 miles (250 km) and has already been employed to significant effect against Russian targets. 

The Storm Shadow was also instrumental in September 2023, when Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian navy submarine in a drydock in Crimea. 

Ukraine’s air force has made these missiles the centerpiece of its deep-strike capabilities. The 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade, operating out of western Ukraine, is leading these efforts.

Once limited to deploying unguided munitions, the brigade has transitioned to employing Western precision weapons, including Storm Shadows and SCALP-EGs. 

Despite the technological advantages, these missions remain dangerous, with Ukrainian pilots often contending with incoming Russian missiles as they execute their strikes.

These high-risk operations are yielding high rewards. The Storm Shadow’s penetrating power has made it indispensable for targeting buried command bunkers and other fortified structures that are beyond the capabilities of locally developed deep-strike weapons.

Meanwhile, in response to these Western strikes, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on November 21, acknowledging that both American and British missiles had recently targeted Russian military facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions. 

He confirmed that Russia had retaliated with its newly developed Oreshnik hypersonic missile, targeting the Yuzhmash defense plant in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Putin further warned that Western policies—particularly those allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russian territory—could lead to dire consequences if the conflict continues to escalate.

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