Let Kyiv fire missiles at Russia, British air chief says

Ukraine needs to strike targets inside Russia using British-made long-range missiles if it is to counter Moscow’s bombardment, Britain’s chief of the air staff has suggested.

TOPSHOT - France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) and Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer review troops aboard a command vehicle on the Place de l'Etoile, as part of the commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, Armistice, ending World War I (WWI), in Paris, on November 11, 2024. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP)

Ukraine needs to strike targets inside Russia using British-made long-range missiles if it is to counter Moscow’s bombardment, Britain’s chief of the air staff has suggested.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has become the most senior military figure to imply that Ukraine should be allowed to use Storm Shadow missiles in self-defence.

Sir Richard, who was discussing the prospect of an air and missile defence system for Britain or NATO at the Royal United Services Institute on Monday night, used the example of Ukraine to argue that any air defence system “must include an offensive element”.

He said: “We should also remember the old dictum that ‘the best form of defence is attack’ ... Ukraine cannot put up a shield to protect themselves against the 30,000 glide bombs lobbed into the Kursk Oblast. Instead, what they need – and what we would need – is the ability to strike the aircraft launching these bombs on the ground.”

The RAF chief’s remarks will be seen as a suggestion that Ukraine should be allowed to use Storm Shadow missiles to strike within Russia.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions on Monday about allowing Ukraine to use the missiles against targets inside Russia.

They hope to persuade President Joe Biden to authorise their use before he leaves office in January.

Sir Keir said: “I’ve always said that we support Ukraine for as long as it takes ... I’ve also said ... we need to put Ukraine in the best possible position. It has been my constant refrain for four months now, since I’ve been Prime Minister, in all the discussions that I’ve had.”

Air Chief Marshall Knighton said: “After a three-decade sabbatical, I conclude that deterrence is back. And this demands that we think about the new threats and the capability we need to deter and, if necessary, fight and win.”

He added that “Ukraine is a stark reminder of what warfare becomes when neither side can gain effective control of the air.”.

Britain and France have already sent Storm Shadows to Ukraine, but only for use on targets within the country’s borders to fight back invading Russians.

THE TIMES