Ukraine Ups the Ante with UK-Made Missile Strikes on Russian Soil
Ukraine has taken a significant step in its ongoing conflict with Russia by firing UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory for the first time. This escalation, which reportedly occurred on November 20, 2024, involved the launch of up to 12 missiles aimed at targets in the Kursk region, a border area partially controlled by Ukrainian forces.
The use of these long-range weapons comes shortly after Ukraine obtained permission from the United States to utilise American-made ATACMS missiles against targets within Russia. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that the nation is leveraging all available military resources to defend itself but refrained from commenting on the specific details of the missile strikes.
Reports from Russian military blogs, corroborated by media outlets such as CNN and the BBC, indicate that fragments of Storm Shadow missiles with identifiable markings were found in Russia’s Kursk region. Weapons expert Trevor Ball validated these claims, stating that the debris likely originated from the missiles fired during the attack.
The decision to employ Storm Shadow missiles appears to be a response to increasing military pressures, including the reported deployment of North Korean troops along the Russian border. UK Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart about ongoing military support, notably in light of the changing dynamics on the battlefield.
Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles), were initially intended for use only within Ukraine’s borders. However, this shift in strategy marks a notable change in the UK’s stance, driven by Ukraine’s urgent need for effective response options amid the intensifying conflict.
Military analysts suggest that these actions could prompt a significant backlash from Russia. In response to the application of long-range Western weaponry within its borders, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that such developments could lead to direct conflict with NATO.

Ukraine fires UK-made Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for first time, say reports | CNN
The article provides a detailed report on Ukraine's unprecedented use of UK-made Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian locations, marking a signific
www.cnn.com
Ukraine fires UK-made Storm Shadow missiles at Russia for first time
The BBC understands the long-range missiles have been fired into Russian territory by Ukraine.
www.bbc.com
Ukraine fires UK Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for first time
12 of the missiles were fired into Kursk, a border region partially held by Ukrainian forces, according to a British media report.
www.scmp.com
Russia-Ukraine war live: UK-made Storm Shadows fired into Russia – Reports
These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war for Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
www.aljazeera.com
Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia for first time
Government source confirms the long-range missiles have been used after Russia claims 12 of the weapons were fired into the Kursk region
www.thetimes.com
Ukraine fires UK-made missiles into Russia for first time
Storm Shadow missile attack comes day after Kyiv used US-supplied long-range weapons to strike within Russia
www.theguardian.com
Government slashes £500m from defence as Storm Shadows hit Russia
Six major programmes across the Armed Forces, including Army’s main fleet of drones, scrapped on day Ukraine unleashes British missiles
www.telegraph.co.uk