UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles have been used in Ukraine, according to UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace on Thursday. During a press conference with Norway’s Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram, Wallace confirmed the use of the missiles but refrained from providing further detail. “All I can say is it is my understanding that it has been used since we announced its deployment to Ukraine,” he said. He noted: “It’s also one of the mitigations that, if you can’t supply fighter aircraft, can you help provide one of the things that fighter aircraft deliver, which is deep strike? “And yes, we can, we can do that with Storm Shadow.” Meanwhile, when asked about Norway’s potential donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Gram stated that it was not currently on the agenda and he did not wish to speculate on any future donations. The British government last week announced that it would be providing long-range missiles to Ukraine. The long-range, air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 350 miles and can carry a warhead of up to 450 kilograms (992 pounds). They were developed by British Aerospace and a French company, according to the Royal Air Force. Moscow has warned that the move will warrant an “appropriate response” from the Russian military. Other countries, including the US, have been hesitant to provide such arms, fearing that they may lead to an escalation in the conflict if used on targets in Russia.
Source: Anadolu Agency