What would western long-range missiles mean for war?

Moscow would be forced to move its aircraft further back, meaning they would need more fuel to reach the frontline.

A Moscow apartment block damaged in Tuesday’s drone attack. Picture: AFP

Ukraine would strike Russian airbases, ammunition depots and other military targets threatening its territory should there be a shift in Western policy on the use of long-range missiles.

Its military wants to be able to take out the Russian bomber fleets that are dropping air-launched “glide bombs” – cheap refurbished bombs with guide systems – on Ukrainian targets to devastating effect. They are able to launch the bombs dozens of kilometres behind the frontlines.

If Ukraine could use such weapons deep inside Russia, this would force Moscow to move its aircraft further back, meaning they would need more fuel to reach the frontline.

It might also limit the number of sorties Russia’s air force could carry out.

“It (a change in policy) would allow us to prevent Russian strikes and provide the necessary deterrence. This is all about taking us close to the end of the war,” a Ukrainian military source said.

Britain has supplied Ukraine with a limited stock of Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 250km, triple the range of the missiles Ukraine has used until now. They are useful for attacking bunkers.

The US has provided Ukraine with the longest-range version of ATACMS, a ballistic missile that can travel about 305km.

Although Ukraine can use other weapons provided by the West to hit targets inside Russia, it has been banned from using long-range missiles because of US fears about escalation.

Russia has no such restrictions. Last week, Moscow received a delivery of more than 200 Fath-360 close-range ballistic missiles from Iran. These have a range of up to 120km.

Such a delivery is likely to have played a part in shifting the US stance on its policy.

Allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons inside Russia is unlikely to alter the course of the war entirely, partly because the Ukrainians are unlikely to have huge numbers of the weapons.

THE TIMES