They are described as a “game changer”.
Britain is providing Ukraine with several Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
They have a range of over 250 kilometers and are expected to be an important part of Ukraine’s counter-offensive.
Since Ukraine succeeded in crossing the Dnieper River in April, there has been talk of a Ukrainian counter-offensive – the spring offensive.
CNN reported earlier on Thursday that several “senior Western officials” stated that Britain had sent several Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Now Defense Minister Ben Wallace confirms that Storm Shadow is being sent to Ukraine. They are believed to be able to play a role in a possible counter-offensive, as the robots could reach Russian territory in eastern and southern Ukraine, including the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, which Ukraine intends to reclaim.
“Crimea decides everything”
– The cruise robot is a real game changer from a range perspective, says a high-ranking US military official to CNN.
One of their sources tells the newspaper that Ukraine is guaranteed to attack only Ukrainian sovereign territories with the missiles and not targets in Russia.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lidén believes that Crimea in particular will play a major role in the development of the war. He established that in an interview last week.
– There is no doubt that Crimea decides everything together. If you get there somehow, then it will probably be decisive for the whole war, says Peter Lidén.
He says that Ukraine has the geography ready for them and that they should be able to start the counter-offensive at any time.
– I think they are under pressure to start as soon as possible really, but at the same time they have to be sufficiently prepared so that it is successful from the start.
Volodymyr Zelensky: “Successful”
Peter Lidén believes that Ukraine will want to surprise Russia with its spring offensive.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, it will be necessary to wait a while before striking.
– We would lose many people. I find that unacceptable. So we have to wait, Zelenskyy told European public service companies in an interview published on Thursday.
– With what we have, we can move forward and be successful.