British missiles strike Russia for first time as Kyiv gripped by false alarm
Long-range UK provided Storm Shadow missiles saw their first use today as the Kremlin engages in psychological war
A brief panic enveloped the city of Kyiv this afternoon as authorities issued a grave warning over the wailing of air-raid sirens that a “massive combined missile strike” was incoming.
Providentially, the “massive attack” never came to be as Ukrainian intelligence announced it was in fact a toothless “psychological operation” designed to torment the city. The unique alert however, along with the rare closures of the American Embassy and several others, put even the most war-worn residents on edge.
Although no stranger to attacks, Kyiv has good reason to be fearful as Russia has ramped up strikes on civilians in recent days. One particularly malicious strike on residential buildings in Odessa on Monday took 11 lives and wounded dozens more.
Putin’s psychological games and provocative strikes follow the week’s developments in which Biden, and then Starmer, agreed to allow their respective long-range missiles to be used against targets in Russia. Several of the American Atacms missiles crossed into Russian territory yesterday, and today pictures emerged from the Kursk region depicting fragments of a British Storm Shadow missile.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the introduction of these weapons brings about a “qualitatively new phase of the war” as, according to him, the missiles require satellite data, programming, and targeting input from American experts. When questioned on the veracity of Lavrov’s claim, the American State Department spokesperson offered a vague response, saying the “US has shared intelligence with Ukraine to improve their performance on the battlefield”.
The belief that Western intelligence is required for these strikes appears to have motivated Putin to alter Russian nuclear doctrine yesterday. Under the new provision, if Russia faces a “joint-attack” from a non-nuclear state and a nuclear one, it can respond with nuclear weapons – even if the enemy force has only used conventional means.
Putin and his cadres have issued many nuclear threats over the course of the conflict, and thus many world leaders are not taking his doctrine-change seriously. Top Republican allies of President-elect Trump are, however. Don Jr bemoaned Biden’s decision, saying on X, “The military industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives”.
Biden and Starmer offer an alternative explanation, affirming that the introduction of 10,000 North Korean soldiers to the invasion served as the main motivator behind their policy shifts. Britain’s Storm Shadows will now allow Ukraine to strike troop formations, equipment, and bases 150 miles deep into Russia, while the American Atacms extend that range to 186 miles. While Moscow remains out of reach, numerous Russian cities could find themselves in the crosshairs.
Trump’s administration appears unlikely to allow such strikes to continue, thus it can be expected that many will be launched over the next eight weeks to maximise their impact. Although Putin has refrained from publicly expressing a willingness to compromise with Trump so far, Kremlin sources revealed to Reuters today that he is “open to a ceasefire”. The caveat being that Ukraine NATO membership remains non-negotiable. The report also affirms Republican fears, indicating that the Biden missile decision could complicate or delay any settlement.
Whether the long-range decision was motivated by Trump or not, the prospect of his Presidency has certainly shifted attitudes around the war. Top European diplomats and leaders are allegedly opening to the idea of trading Ukrainian land for a ceasefire, and Zelensky himself – while not offering up his territory – expressed his desire to find peace through diplomatic routes in 2025. The Ukrainian population is also showing signs of wear, as recent polling indicates a majority now favour peace talks over continuing the fight.
Josh Schlicht
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Letting UK missiles be used to strike Russia is appalling stake-raising. Why is the UK supporting the outgoing US administration in this and risking retaliation of any sort, nuclear or otherwise?