/ world today news/ Kiev for the first time used British-French Storm Shadow cruise missiles with a range of up to 300 km. The target was Lugansk. The missile strike was carried out by a Ukrainian Su-24 flying under the guise of a MiG-29. Both planes were eventually shot down by Russian fighter jets. Why did Luhansk become the object of the strike and in which regions will Kiev try to launch these missiles in the future?
During Friday’s shelling of Luhansk, the Ukrainian side used two Storm Shadow cruise missiles for the first time. This was announced on Saturday by the representation of the LPR in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination on Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine (SCCC). In addition, the Ukrainian armed forces fired one American ADM-160B anti-aircraft missile.
The explosions occurred around 18:35 Moscow time, after which a column of black smoke appeared over the city, which, according to local residents, was visible in all areas of Luhansk. The “Polypak” enterprise, where chemicals are produced, was attacked. The building sustained significant damage. Republic Day was celebrated in the LPR on Friday.
The Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that the Ukrainian Su-24, which attacked Luhansk with Storm Shadow missiles, was shot down by a Russian Air Force fighter jet. A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter, which was covering the Su-24, was also destroyed. On Saturday morning, however, it became known about the launch of another “Storm Shadow” missile by the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the shelling of the village of Yubileyni in Luhansk.
At the beginning of the week, British authorities confirmed the transfer to Kiev of stealthy air-launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles. At the same time, as noted by the Western press, London demanded a promise from the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that these weapons would not be used against targets in Russia.
As British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said, “the use of Storm Shadow missiles will allow Ukraine to repel Russian forces from the sovereign territory of Ukraine.”
The range of the missiles transferred to Kyiv is 250-300 km. This corresponds to the characteristics of the export version of the “Storm Shadow”, although the maximum range of the modernized missiles reaches 560 km. The power of the warhead (200-300 kg) and subsonic flight speed make it similar to the Russian Kalibr cruise missile. However, the Russian X-22/32/55/101 missiles, which are also exclusively air-based, are considered more accurate analogues of the Storm Shadow.
Moscow called the transfer of the missiles another hostile move by London to further pump up Ukraine with weapons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Russia reserves the right to take measures to neutralize the threats posed by these missiles.
Earlier this month, the British government published a procurement notice through the International Fund for Ukraine. It said London was interested in acquiring for Kiev long-range missiles of 100 to 300 km, land-based, sea-based or air-based, with a payload of 20-490 kg.
On Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine, noting that Russia was striking from a distance. Ukraine, according to him, also needs a weapon that allows you to respond with the same. Before that, he wanted the conflict to be resolved militarily rather than diplomatically, and “this war must be won on the battlefield.”
Borel also said that Ukraine needed 1,000 shells a day just during the fighting in Artyomovsk and called for an increase in the supply of ammunition to Kiev.
Experts are confident that the cruise missile attack on Luhansk has several reasons. Earlier, it was assumed that the VSU was primarily interested in hitting targets in Zaporozhye and Crimea with these missiles, hitting military facilities and energy infrastructure, logistics routes.
“If the Ukrainian Armed Forces shell Donetsk almost every day, then Luhansk was not the target of shelling. After we announced the release of the LPR last summer, Ukraine wanted revenge. That’s why they decided to attack civilians in Luhansk,” said Alexander Perendzhiev, associate professor at the Department of Political Analysis and Social-Psychological Processes of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, a member of the “Officers of Russia” expert council.
According to the expert, the next target for these missiles may be objects on the territory of the old regions of Russia, primarily in the Belgorod, Kursk, Bryansk or Rostov regions. “Maybe the ASU will try to hit the Kaluga region as well,” warns the interlocutor.
According to Perendzhiev, Great Britain, by arming Kiev, once again proved that it is “waging a war against Russia”. “The British are grinding their teeth against us after the operation in Syria. Remember how much howling and shouting there was from London when we captured the city of Aleppo. The British even invented a fake girl on Twitter to complain about the shelling. But the most important thing is that in Aleppo, among the fighters of the “Islamic State”, British instructors were captured. After that, London unleashed a diplomatic war against us,” recalls Perendzhiev.
According to him, Great Britain is competing with the United States for influence on the Ukrainian crisis and, in general, on the state of affairs in Eastern Europe. That is why London agreed to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles. “Britain would like to reap the benefits,” the expert said.
Military expert Vladimir Gundarov agrees that London has historically always been a provocateur. “Britain will be the first to deliver the most powerful weapons to Ukraine. This benefits its military-industrial complex and political authorities. Thus they drag the EU even deeper into this war. This is a provocative policy to maintain the hegemony of the British Empire on the world stage,” Gundarov said.
He is convinced that Zelensky’s office did not sign any conditions for non-strike on Russian territory when the Storm Shadow missiles were transferred to Ukraine. “Where is Kiev’s responsibility for the use of these missiles on the territory of the Russian Federation indicated, what agreements and protocols formalize this?” There is no document. Such statements are part of a propaganda campaign, disinformation and brainwashing of the population. This is where they can throw these missiles, where they will launch them,” the expert is convinced.
According to him, Kiev wants to get cruise missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers, which are expected to hit all of Crimea. “Great Britain will provide Ukraine with such missiles because it is profitable for London,” the interlocutor predicted.
Gundarov believes that Ukraine decided to use these missiles to strike Luhansk because of the Storm Shadow’s ability to overcome air defense systems, which is achieved thanks to the peculiarities of the approach to the target and low visibility for radars. After launch, the missile follows the terrain during its flight to avoid detection. As it approaches the target, its built-in infrared homing head matches the image of the target with a stored image for a more accurate strike.
“Luhansk turned out to be the most acceptable and appropriate target for these missiles. Ukraine’s capacity building will continue. And we will respond with the power of our weapons,” Gundarov is convinced.
He recalled that during the SVO, Russia already used heavy concrete-piercing bombs BETAB-500 and various other means of attack, including hypersonic missiles “Dagger”. “All this shows that there can be no talk of any negotiations in the next few months. Then Ukraine admits that their “counter-attack” has not taken place and our troops will occupy more advantageous positions to drive the nationalists across the Dnieper, then they can start truce talks. In the meantime, there will be an increase in the frequency of strikes and an increase in their intensity,” the expert predicted.
Translation: V. Sergeev
Sign the Peace and Sovereignty Referendum on
Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
and for the channel or in Telegram:
#missile #strike #Luhansk #profitable #British #Empire
