Defence Secretary Refuses to Confirm Missile Reports

Screen grab of Defence Secretary John Healey appearing before the Defence Select Committee at the House of Commons, London, on Nov. 21, 2024. House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

The secretary of state for defence has refused to confirm if the UK authorised Ukraine to launch British Storm Shadow missiles at Russia.

Defence Select Committee Chairman Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi asked Defence Secretary John Healey on Thursday to confirm reports that the government had lifted restrictions on the use of the long-range missiles.

Healey responded: “I won’t be drawn on the operational details of the conflict. It risks both operational security and in the end, the only one that benefits from such a public debate is [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin.”

“Be in no doubt that UK government is stepping up our support for Ukraine, determined to continue doubling down our support for Ukraine,” he said.

Dhesi did not press Healey further on the issue, saying, before moving on to the topic of the UK’s defence spending commitment: “I was fully anticipating that answer.

“I won’t dwell on that further, but just to say that we are very much in line with the fact that yourself and the government are so fully supporting Ukraine, and I think that is what is required to support our friends and allies.”

‘Double Down’ Support

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been pressuring the United States and UK to lift restrictions on using long-range Western weaponry, such as the Storm Shadow cruise missiles, against Russian targets, a request that NATO leaders had been reluctant to grant over concerns it could escalate tensions between the bloc and Russia.

Following reports from several media outlets in recent days that Ukraine had fired Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory, ministers have avoided confirming whether the government had changed its position.

As the defence secretary was giving evidence at the select committee, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the House of Commons in the week marking 1,000 days since the Russia-Ukraine war began.

Starmer did not confirm the missile reports either, and instead reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine.

The prime minister said: “I am clear, but we must double down in our support. We will not be deterred or distracted by reckless threats. We have consistently said we will do what it takes to support Ukraine and put it in the best possible position going into the winter.”

He continued that the UK’s support for Ukraine “is always for self defence” and that Ukraine “has a clear right of self defence against Russia’s illegal attack,” under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter.

“Russia could roll back their forces and end this war tomorrow. But until then, we will stand up for what we know is right, for Ukraine’s security and for our own security, and we will back Ukraine with what is needed for as long as it’s needed,” Starmer said.

G20 Response

Leader of the opposition and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said in the Commons that she was proud of the efforts the previous government had made in supporting Ukraine, adding, “We will work with the government to ensure British support for Ukraine is steadfast and continues.”

She went on to criticise Starmer for the apparent failure to press other world leaders at the G20 summit to further their support for Ukraine.

“At the G20, the prime minister was not able to achieve his goal of leaders doubling down on Ukraine’s support. As [German] Chancellor [Olaf] Scholz said, ‘It is too little when the G20 cannot find the words to make it clear Russia is responsible for the war,’” Badenoch said.

Screen grab of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer giving a statement to MPs on the latest situation in Ukraine in the House of Commons, London, on Nov. 21, 2024. House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

Former Labour leader and current Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn said that “whilst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is obviously wrong,” he asked what pathway the prime minister or the G20 saw to bring about the end of the war.

Starmer responded that Russia was in breach of the U.N. Charter “and we must ensure that Putin does not win this war.”

“That’s why I’ve been so clear in standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes, and providing whatever resource that they need in order to do so,” he said.

US-Made ATACMS

There have also been reports that earlier this week, Ukraine fired U.S.-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) into the Russian region of Kursk. Anonymous U.S. officials had said the use of ATACMS was authorised by President Joe Biden.

Biden’s administration has also granted Kyiv permission to use anti-personnel landmines in Ukraine.

President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House in two months, and has said his administration will seek to deescalate—if not end—the war.

On Monday, Putin signed a new doctrine lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons. The document says an attack on Russia by any country using conventional missiles supplied by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack.