Ukraine is set to escalate its long-range strikes within Russia, as predicted by Admiral Tony Radakin, the head of Britain’s defense staff. Radakin indicated that the influx of Western aid will empower Kyiv to gain an edge in the conflict, despite the current hardships. On Monday, the British government announced its largest military aid package to date for Ukraine, valued at £500 million ($617 million), including an undisclosed quantity of Storm Shadow long-range missiles. Two days later, US President Joe Biden approved a substantial defense aid package worth $61 billion for Kyiv. While expressing gratitude to Washington, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated that no single package could halt the Russian advance, emphasizing the need for a long-term Western commitment. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the impact of the new weapons supplies, predicting they would not alter the frontline dynamics. However, in an interview with the Financial Times, Radakin asserted that as Ukraine acquires more long-range capabilities, its capacity to execute deep operations will become increasingly significant in the conflict. Radakin acknowledged Russia’s enhanced ability to conduct effective long-range strikes compared to last year but cautioned against dwelling on the current bleak outlook. He maintained that long-term developments may favor Ukraine as Western weaponry enables Kyiv to shape the fighting in more impactful ways than in the past. Anonymous US government sources revealed to several US media outlets on Wednesday that Washington had provided Kyiv with an unspecified number of longer-range ATACMS missiles in March. In September of last year, the US had chosen to supply Ukraine with just the mid-range variation of the rocket due to concerns about uncontrolled conflict escalation. Ukrainian forces reportedly employed the new weapon, with a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles), on a Russian airfield last Wednesday. In related news, Rodion Miroshnik, Russia’s ambassador-at-large for Ukraine’s offenses, disclosed that between January 1 and March 31, Ukrainian shelling of Russian areas claimed the lives of 201 Russian civilians, including 11 children, and injured hundreds more. The official further alleged that Ukrainian forces primarily used shells supplied by Western nations in these attacks, accusing Ukraine’s backers of ignoring the consequences.
Ukraine to Enhance Long-Range Strikes in Russia as Western Aid Bolsters Defenses
