by Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
One of the deadliest Russian missile attacks on Ukraine since the war began has prompted Kyiv to again ask the West for more air defense weapons – and for the freedom to strike deeper into Russia.
According to Ukrainian officials, two ballistic missiles hit a military institute in the central part of the country on Tuesday, killing at least 51 people and wounding more than 200 others. More than a dozen others may be trapped in debris.
“We say again and again to everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defense systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not somewhere in a warehouse,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Once again, Zelensky urged that Ukraine be allowed Western-donated weapons to attack deeper into Russia.
“Long-range strikes that can defend against Russian terror are needed now, not sometime later,” he said. “Every day of delay, unfortunately, means more lives lost.”
That’s an issue the West is split on. The UK and France reportedly support lifting the restrictions. But the US and Germany are opposed, fearing that firing long-range missiles into Russia will provoke Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Last week, two newspapers – the Telegraph and the Financial Times – reported that the UK has asked the US to allow Ukraine to fire British-made Storm Shadow missiles (which the French call Scalp-EG) at targets deep inside Russia. According to the Financial Times, those missiles may need US capabilities to be used – meaning the British couldn’t allow Ukraine to use them without Washington’s okay.
Ukraine also wants Germany to supply its Taurus missiles, whose range – roughly 310 miles – is twice that of the Storm Shadow. It also wants to use those just-arrived F-16 fighters to attack Russian airfields, supply warehouses and command and control centers. But until the US agrees, those attacks won’t happen.
Last month, a Pentagon spokeswoman said, “Of course we’re worried about escalation. So just because Russia hasn’t responded to something doesn’t mean that they can’t or won’t in the future.”
As for additional air defense systems, more of them are in the pipeline. But Ukraine says they are not arriving fast enough.
In June, the Biden administration said it would temporarily halt the deliveries of the interceptors used in the Patriot system and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to overseas customers other than Ukraine and Taiwan. The US called the move necessary to “ensure Ukraine’s survival.”
Meanwhile the US and Israel reportedly discussed a plan to send more of the Patriot batteries to Ukraine. According to the Wall Street Journal, as many as eight of the systems could be shipped to Kyiv. But Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told CNN after Tuesday’s attack that the process must be speeded up.
“I don’t know how many more tragedies like this have to occur for all promises to be fulfilled and for all new commitments to be made, Kuleba said.
Ukraine received the first of its Patriot batteries last year. They have been used to shoot down a number of Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, along with at least one A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft.
