Britain is supplying Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to counter Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure before winter, as London backs Kyiv’s ability to strike targets inside Russia despite US pressure to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed replenishing the missile stocks during their meeting in London on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
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London considers strikes on Russian facilities used to launch attacks against Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure a defensive measure, the sources said.
They pointed to Russia’s increased production of jet-powered drones and missiles, saying Ukraine needed the means to counter the growing threat.
The British position contrasts with that of US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has demanded that Ukraine stop drone attacks on Russian oil refineries.
Ukraine resumed those attacks on Thursday, Oct. 15, in response to continuing Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure.
Trump called Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace” and accused Kyiv of driving up global energy prices, even as Moscow continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“Well, I think that’s a disgrace,” Trump told Newsmax in an interview published on Thursday, when asked about Ukraine’s decision to resume attacks on Russian refineries.
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However, energy analysts say Trump’s deal to resume Russian diesel exports is unlikely to significantly lower fuel prices, as the main driver of the global price surge has been the US-Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, London does not believe Kyiv should stop striking Russia while Moscow continues attacking Ukraine.
The distinction concerns both the targets and the broader question of Ukraine’s right to respond: the reported British position supports attacks on facilities enabling Russian strikes, while Washington has specifically pressed Kyiv to spare refineries.
Britain began supplying Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine in 2023. Their use was initially restricted to targets within Ukraine, including Russian-occupied territory. Ukrainian forces first used them against military targets inside Russia in late 2024.
Manufactured by MBDA, Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile designed to strike high-value targets. It flies at low altitude to reduce detection, and the manufacturer lists its range as more than 250 kilometers, or about 155 miles.
Bloomberg also reported that Burnham announced plans in August to share technical information and designs for long-range missiles to support assembly in Ukraine, as establishing that production capability would take time.
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