Storm Shadow
The British Defense Ministry requested information from arms suppliers about long-range missiles. According to the terms of the tender, they must have a range of 100 to 300 km. The missiles will be paid for by the Fund for Ukraine. This fund was established by the United Kingdom together with Norway, Iceland, Lithuania, Denmark and Sweden specifically for the purchase of weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to the tender documents, the missiles must have a payload of 20-490 kg, air defense and electronic warfare protection. Experts believe that the request for information on long-range missiles was posted by the UK Ministry of Defense for a reason. The defense ministry wants to encourage other allies of Ukraine to supply the Armed Forces with long-range missile weapons. In particular, the Turkish MBRL missile system manufactured by Roketsan meets the tender conditions. It uses a wide range of missiles to fire, including ballistic KHAN missiles with a range of 300 km. In addition, the American tactical missile ATACMS meets the tender conditions.
The UK may not provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles capable of hitting targets up to 300 kilometres away, as it will take a long time to adapt them to new aircraft. Defense Express expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi said this on Espreso 10 May 2023. "I think the Brits will not give us Storm Shadow missiles. If we analyse the known experience of using this missile in real battles, this is not what we need to inflict a significant defeat on the Russians. The Storm Shadow has proven to be good in expeditionary missions against ISIS or the Assad regime, but it is a subsonic missile that can be shot down at the level of Russian X-101s," he said.
According to Kyrychevskyi, it is unlikely that the British themselves will give them to us, relying on their effectiveness. "Most likely, the British will think of Turkey. If we rely on the wording that the missile is similar in characteristics to ATACMS, it will be a Turkish KHAN ballistic missile with a range of up to 300 km, and even a more powerful arm than on ATACMS. And we already have launchers for these missiles – this is official information from the 49th Artillery Brigade that we have Turkish missile systems," the expert said.
He added that apparently, the UK can give Ukraine these missiles, and Storm Shadow, perhaps, later. "Adapting such a missile to a new aircraft takes a very long time, the Eurofighter Typhoon had to be redesigned for them for 6 years. And we needed these missiles yesterday. And KHAN ballistic missiles are something that can be provided immediately," Kyrychevskyi summarized.
Britain on 11 May 2023 became the first country to begin supplying Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles, which will allow Kyiv's forces to hit Russian troops and supply dumps deep behind the front lines. Britain had purchased a total of 1,000 such missiles and previously used 98. A British official noted that London can afford such supplies, because “Russia doesn’t like us very much anyway.” He added that his country had previously taken the initiative to take certain steps before its allies for the first time, including training Ukrainian pilots. “We know that if we give something, it becomes easier for others,” the official said.
"I will not name the exact number [of missiles transferred] for operational reasons. However, this is a sufficient number to satisfy Ukraine's needs for this type of weapon at this stage. We will keep this issue under control to ensure that we do our part situation," Wallace said.
The development came as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country’s military needed more time to prepare an anticipated counteroffensive aimed at opening a new chapter in the war. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that the UK is sending Ukraine long-range cruise missiles to help push back Russian forces. The range of such missiles makes it possible to strike deep into the territory of "new regions" of Russia.
Russia will be forced to move the threat away from its borders if the Kyiv regime receives more long-range systems from the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on 21 February 2023 in a message to the Federal Assembly. "One circumstance should be clear to everyone: the more long-range Western systems will come to Ukraine, the further we will be forced to move the threat away from our borders. This is natural," the head of the Russian state said. "I won't dwell now on the West's attempts to turn the tide of hostilities, on their plans to increase military supplies. Everyone knows this already," Putin said.
The supply of long-range missiles by the UK to the Kyiv regime will require an adequate response from the Russian military, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on 11 May 2023. He stressed that the Kremlin took a "very negative" attitude to the supply of long-range missiles by London to Kyiv. "This will require an adequate response from our military, who, naturally, from a military point of view, will make appropriate decisions against this background," the press secretary of the head of the Russian state said.
Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) of short and medium range of the Tor, Buk families have already demonstrated in Syria the ability to destroy Storm Shadow missiles, which London provides to Kiev . This opinion was expressed by Alexei Leonkov, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland, in an interview with TASS on 11 May 2023.
As Leonkov noted, Storm Shadow is an anti-ship missile that can also hit ground targets. It was developed as an Anglo-French analogue of the American Tomahawk missile. “For the first time, our air defense systems met them during the attack on Damascus on April 14, 2018. Then they shot down these missiles. <...> The technology by which this missile operates is called “fire and forget”: it clearly follows a route that it was laid down. The route cannot be changed, self-destruction cannot be programmed, "it flew - it hit. However, our Buk and Tor systems, which were in Syria, recognized it and shot it down," Leonkov said.
At the same time, the expert noted that the rocket can reach speeds of up to 800 km / h and make an inconspicuous flight at low altitude, for example, almost above the edge of the forest. “I think that the flights of all Ukrainian drones that flew to the Kaluga and Ryazan regions and which we shot down, probed the paths and routes. If this cruise missile is launched along the same routes, then, of course, the threat will increase several times,” explained the interlocutor of the agency, stressing that "air defense systems are not omnipotent and do not have the ability to shine through forests and terrain."
Wallace told lawmakers in the House of Commons that "the Prime Minister and I have now taken the decision to provide longer range capabilities. In December, I informed the House that I was “developing options to respond to Russia’s continued aggression in a calibrated and determined manner”. "Today, I can confirm that the UK has donated Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. Storm Shadow is a long-range conventional precision strike capability. It compliments the long-range systems already gifted, including HIMARS and Harpoon missiles, as well as Ukraine’s own Neptune cruise missiles and longer-range munitions already gifted.
"The donation of these weapon systems gives Ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against Russia’s continued brutality. Especially, the deliberate targeting of Ukrainian Civilian Infrastructure, which is against International Law. Ukraine has a right to be able to defend itself against this. Their use of Storm Shadow will allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces based within Ukrainian Sovereign Territory.
"I’m sure the House will understand that I will not go into further details of the capability. But while these weapons will give Ukraine new capability, members should recognise that these systems are not in the same league as the Russian AS-24 KILLJOY hypersonic missile or Shahed Iranian one-way attack drones, or their Kalibr cruise missile with a range of over 2,000km. Roughly 7 times that of the Storm Shadow missile.
"Russia must recognise that their actions alone have led to such systems being provided to Ukraine. It is my judgement as the Defence Secretary that this is a calibrated proportionate response to Russia’s escalations."
He didn't say how many are being sent. Wallace said the missiles “are now going into or are in the country itself.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged in February 2022 that Britain would be the first country to give Ukraine the longer-range weapons that it has sought from Western allies. The missiles give Ukraine capacity to strike well behind the front lines, including in Russia-occupied Crimea. UK media reported that Ukraine has pledged not to use the missiles to attack Russia itself. Wallace said the missiles would be used to push back Russian forces in “Ukrainian sovereign territory.” He said UK support for Ukraine is “responsible, calibrated, coordinated and agile.”
The UK Ministry of Defense was considering supplying Ukraine with Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles with a range of 300 kilometers, the Washington Post (WP) reported in a 08 May 2023 article. The publication refers to a procurement notice published on May 2 by the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), a platform with the participation of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, through which Kyiv conducts tenders for the purchase of weapons for its needs.
In the notice, the UK Ministry of Defense asked for proposals for weapons capable of striking at a range of up to 300 kilometers. The proposals were expected within three days. According to a British official, who declined to confirm the type, timing, or quantity of weapons under consideration, no final decision has been made. At the same time, the publication notes that the requested characteristics and capabilities are almost completely consistent with Storm Shadow missiles.
In addition, according to WP, in one of the “secret US documents” released in April, US intelligence confirmed that London intends to transfer an undetermined number of Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv, along with British personnel to help with targeting. Storm Shadow can be installed on Ukrainian Soviet-made jets. Their range allows them to reach the territory of Russia.
The United States has consistently refused to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons, such as ATACMS missiles for multiple launch rocket systems, citing fears that Ukraine would use them to strike at Russian territory. According to the Americans, this could lead to an escalation. However, they do not object to the transfer of long-range missiles by Britain.
On 08 February 2023, during a visit to Kyiv, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that Britain was preparing to transfer "more long-range weapons" to Ukraine. Until now, the British authorities have not specified what exactly is meant by this. According to British military observers, it could be Harpoon anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 240 km, which can be modified to strike ground targets, or Storm Shadow aircraft missiles.
Konstantin Krivolap , aviation expert and analyst, suggested "The British decision to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadows could lead to the same situation as with the Challenger 2 tanks. When the British announced that they would supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks, all other countries began to run ahead of each other: we too, we too, and we let's give. As a result, roughly speaking, we now have about 300 tanks. I think that with the launch of Storm Shadow, the problem of supplying ATACMS and everything else to Ukraine will also be solved. And we will have a range that allows us to operate over long distances."
Ivan Stupak, ex-SBU officer, concluded "A huge number of Russian warehouses in Crimea are potentially turning into ashes. The decision of the British to give Ukraine Storm Shadow shows that every country has politicians, but not every country has leaders. In the UK there are politicians, there are leaders. Great Britain was ahead of the whole planet when it began to help Ukraine, along with the Baltic countries and the United States, repel this Russian aggression. They helped us with a huge amount of technology.... Everyone was afraid to give, thinking that these missiles would be used to strike at the territory of Belarus and the territory of the Russian Federation from Ukraine. But Britain has shown that it trusts us. They said that there was an agreement with the government of Ukraine that these missiles would not be used against the peaceful territory of the Russian Federation and Belarus as revenge - only in the occupied regions of Ukraine and only in the locations of Russian military personnel."
According to expert Oleg Katkov, Storm Shadow cruise missiles are better than ATACMS because they have a more advanced targeting system and can also hit moving objects. They can become a "surprise" for the Kerch Bridge. "Its warhead is twice as powerful as the same ATACMS, it is also concrete-piercing — it penetrates reinforced concrete and soil. Usually, such missiles were used for the most protected objects," Katkov explained.
Oleksiy Reznikov, Ukraine's defense minister, hinted that Britain's long-range Storm Shadow missiles will bring significant changes to the frontline. He announced the details on 11 May 2023 on Twitter. "The weather forecast predicts a cyclone moving from Great Britain towards Ukraine, which will bring storms with it. Through Shadow of the Storm, the sunlight of our freedom will break through and shed light on our victory," Reznikov wrote
Vladislav Seleznev, military observer, former speaker of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, observed 12 May 2023 "Storm Shadow is a very powerful missile that can cover a distance of up to 500 kilometers and the warhead of these missiles is about 450 kilograms. Taking into account the fact that this missile is very resistant to the enemy electronic warfare system and is capable of moving in space at relatively low altitudes of up to 50 meters, Russian air defense systems are virtually powerless against it. They are not capable of destroying this powerful missile. There are many important targets for these missiles, including on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. Studies show that there are at least 220 military installations on the territory of Crimea. All of them are legitimate targets for Ukrainian missilemen."
ADM-160 MALD An explosion took place in the center of occupied Luhansk 12 May 2013 as a result of a hit by an unknown type of weapon. According to Militarnyi, an unknown missile hit an office building on Tsimlianska Street, 11. The building is located in the center of Luhansk, which is 90-100 kilometers from the battle line. During the missile attack on Luhansk on May 12, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and one ADM-160B MALD anti-aircraft missile.
Russian media reported that there was an explosion at the former academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the village of Yuvileyniy, Artemivsky District, Luhansk. The Russian military has been based in the building since 2015. Propagandists assure that Storm Shadow cruise missiles were used for the attack.
Local residents found the wreckage of an ADM-160B MALD designed to distract enemy air defense systems, near the site of the explosion. The transfer of these missiles to Ukraine’s service was not previously reported. The type of missiles used to strike was not reliably known. It can be assumed that the strike was delivered by the recently announced British-French Storm Shadow cruise missiles. This assumption explains the use of decoy cruise missiles to bypass enemy air defense systems.
On 13 May 2023, an image appeared on social networks, which indicates that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received and are already using small false ADM-160 US-made or MALD air-based targets. The corresponding photo was published on Twitter, as well as in a number of Russian Telegram channels. The mass media note that fragments of false ADM-160 MALD missiles were discovered in Luhansk after heavy shelling. The so-called representation of the People's Republic of China in the SCCC also reported that, according to detailed information, during the missile attack on the city on May 12, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and one ADM-160B MALD anti-aircraft missile.
ADM-160 MALD modifications are small cruise missiles used to deceive the enemy's anti-aircraft defenses, not for their kinetic attack. Depending on the specific variant, these false targets are used to suppress enemy radars or otherwise mislead their operators by "pretending" to be a conventional aircraft or a subsonic cruise missile. Decoys trick them into thinking that threats are approaching from different directions, often diverting attention and resources from real threats.
If Kyiv really received ADM-160 MALD, then this is a kind of sensation. It would at least seem like a logical step and a nice complement to the UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Representatives of the Pentagon refused to comment to The Drive journalists on the possible supply of ADM-160B MALD, citing that they "for reasons of operational security do not comment on the supply of all items transferred to Ukraine."
The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine used two Storm Shadow missiles and one US-made ADM-160 MALD decoy missile to shell Lugansk on May 12. Another Storm Shadow missile hit a village near Lugansk on 13 May 2023, according to the local authorities. Several civilians, including children, were injured as a result of the strikes.
First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Derek Hogan said at a hearing in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of Congress on 23 May 2023 that the Washington administration has no plans at this stage to supply Kiev with ATACMS operational-tactical missile systems. In May, the UK supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow air-launched missiles with a range of 250-300 km, which the Ukrainian military uses, among other things, for shelling settlements.
Storm Shasow / SCALP - Operations
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on May 12, Ukrainian aircraft attacked Lugansk with Storm Shadow missiles. The Russians claimed that combat aircraft that fired these missiles were shot down by Russian fighters. Advisor to the command of the Ukrainian Air Force Yuriy Ignat, on the air of the Rada TV channel 14 May 2023, evasively answered the question of whether the Armed Forces of Ukraine had begun to use British Storm Shadow cruise missiles on Russian territory. Ignat was asked whether the authorities would inform the population about the use of these missiles or "we will see the results of their action." Ignat replied that "the missile issue has been resolved, everything has already been thought out." On the morning of 22 June 2023, Acting Governor of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck bridges on the administrative border between the region and Crimea in the Chongar region. As reported, according to preliminary data, the strike was carried out by a British Storm Shadow missile. However, French markings were also found on fragments of ammunition. The representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Andriy Yusov, commenting on the attack on the Chongar bridge, said that the work of the Ukrainian military and security forces in this direction would continue.The Russian invaders built a pontoon crossing after the attack on the Chongar bridge, which was carried out 22 June 2023. This was reported in the Telegram of the Radio Liberty "Schemes" project , Ukrinform reports. The Chongarsky bridge suffered much more than expected, Acting Governor of the Kherson region Vladimir Saldo said on the air of the Rossiya 24 TV channel. "Unfortunately, the bridge is much more seriously damaged than we originally thought. The bridge is unsuitable for movement in the next 15-20 days - maybe even more, while work is being carried out there, exploring what to do with it," the source said 23 June 2023.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine fired on the Chongarsky bridge. According to the UK, four rockets were fired at him, one of them hit the roadway. There are no victims or injured. As a RIA Novosti correspondent reported, the markings of MBDA France, the manufacturer of the Franco-British SCALP / Storm Shadow missiles, are visible on the fragments of the shells.
Due to the missile attack on the bridge, traffic flows between Crimea and the Kherson region had to be changed , and traffic was temporarily organized along a backup route. The Crimean authorities stressed that the shelling of the bridge would not be able to seriously disrupt the logistics of the land transport corridor, since the regions are connected by three checkpoints: two in the Armyansk region and one in the Dzhankoy region .
According to the forecast of the Minister of Transport of the Republic Nikolai Lukashenko , it will take several weeks to restore the Chongarsky bridge.
After the attack on the Chongar bridge, the occupiers built a pontoon crossing on June 23. The Planet Labs satellite recorded a new pontoon crossing built under the Chongar bridge - this happened after it was shelled, as reported by the Russian-controlled authorities of the occupied territories of Ukraine on the morning of June 22. In the photos available to "Scheme" (a Radio Liberty project), you can also see traces of shelling - on the Chongar bridge and another one next to it.
The fact that the occupiers built the crossing already after the impact is evidenced by satellite images taken earlier. For example, for May 18. On June 22, the so-called acting governor of the occupied part of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo, appointed by the Russian Federation, reported on the shelling of the Chongar bridge connecting the Russian-occupied Crimea with mainland Ukraine. He blamed Ukraine for the attack and said that the bridge was allegedly fired with Storm Shadow missiles.
Due to the shelling, the de facto authorities of Crimea redirected traffic from the Chongar direction to the Armeniansk and Perekop checkpoints. Journalists of the Donbass.Realii project reported that the road through Chongar was used by the occupiers to supply the group in the south of Ukraine with fuel, ammunition and personnel - and was considered the most convenient. Russian "militants" reported that about 70% of all military and civilian traffic passed through this route, and now the logistics of the occupiers may become very difficult.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, commenting on the shelling, said that it was "the planned work of the Security Forces, the Defense Forces, the resistance movement, the local population, which is waiting for the return of Ukrainian legal power in these territories... There will be more."
Specialists began restoring the Chongarsky bridge, damaged as a result of a missile attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Volodymyr Saldo, Acting Governor of the Kherson Region, said on Sunday on his Telegram channel 25 June 2023. "Our bridge builders are repairing the bridge near Chongar at an accelerated pace," he wrote, recalling that the bridge was damaged by a Ukrainian missile on June 22. Saldo pointed out that "real professionals are working." According to him, a new load-bearing beam has already been installed instead of the broken one. The balance promised that the passage would soon be restored.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Chongarsky bridge connecting the Kherson region and Crimea 22 June 2023. The road surface was damaged, there were no victims or injured. According to preliminary data, the strike was carried out by a British Storm Shadow missile.
The roadbed was damaged, traffic across the Chongarsky bridge was suspended. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties among people. In the Crimea , they said that the bridge was slightly damaged. There are no plans to build pontoon crossings in Crimea after the shelling of the bridge . After the strike on the bridge, Ukrainian intelligence said they would continue such work. The strike on the bridge will have little effect on the supply of goods to the Zaporozhye region, said the chairman of the movement "We are together with Russia" Vladimir Rogov.
One of the three routes to the Crimea from Zaporizhia and Kherson regions passes along the Chongarsky bridge (near Dzhankoy). Two other checkpoints ("Perekop" and "Armyansk") are located in the Armyansk region. Transport communication between the Kherson region and the Crimea continues to operate. The motor transport goes on a reserve route.
On 03 July 2023, Andrey Alekseenko, the head of the government of the Kherson region, announced the restoration of the Chongarsky bridge and the full resumption of transport links along this route.
The Taurus KEPD 350 (Target Adaptive Unitary & Dispenser Robotic Ubiquity System / Kinetic Energy Penetrating Destroyer) is a Swedish-German air-to-surface high-precision guided cruise missile. The Taurus cruise missile is launched from a fighter jet and can deliver a 400 kg warhead over 500 kilometers (300 miles), which would make it possible for Ukraine to strike Russian territory. The missile is considered an effective weapon against protected targets such as command bunkers or storage points. If the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive long-range missiles TAURUS KEPD 350, then the Ukrainian army will be able to effectively hit key Russian targets, including bridges, airfields, air defense systems, bunkers, command posts, as well as places of accumulation of manpower and equipment.
The first prototypes of this weapon were created in the late 1990s, and the missile entered the line in 2005. Its length is 5.1 meters with a diameter of 1.08 meters. The total weight is approximately 1,400 kilograms, and the mass of the warhead is approximately 500 kilograms. The range is estimated at over 500 kilometers. launched from a carrier without the aircraft entering the enemy air defense zone. The missile has been designed in such a way that it has a reduced detectability by radars, it also has a tandem warhead, which significantly increases its ability to penetrate reinforced concrete walls or ceilings.
The KEPD 350 missile has been developed and is manufactured by Taurus Systems GmbH, a subsidiary of SAAB and MBDA. The missile was developed for use primarily by the German air force, and its main task is to destroy surface targets and nodal points in the infrastructure of a potential enemy. It can be fired from PANAVIA Tornado, F-15K or F/A-18 Hornet machines.
The Taurus missile is the German equivalent of the UK Storm Shadow. Ben Wallace, the UK Defence Secretary, believed that the long-range Storm Shadow missiles allow Ukraine to partially compensate for the lack of modern combat fighters, which it has not yet been provided with.
Retired Bundeswehr colonel and opposition MP from the Christian Democratic Union, Roderich Kiesewetter, called on Germany to transfer the Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine on 23 May 2023, saying "it would be “far more beneficial to use them in Ukraine rather than storing them in Germany”. He said “Ukraine’s partners should now take a gamble and provide the country with everything it can utilize for a multi-domain, interrelated use of various types of weaponry, within the bounds of international law”. Taurus missiles would make a “highly valuable contribution from Germany,” he said, emphasizing that Ukraine should receive all types of weaponry used by NATO, and there should be no more “red lines.”
Kyiv's allies had so far been cautious about providing arms to Ukraine that could reach Russia. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung wrote that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke about the supply of German missiles to Ukraine in Berlin in early May 2023. On 26 May 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that weapons supplied by Germany to Ukraine are not to be used to strike Russian soil. "Russia attacked Ukraine, and that's why Ukraine can defend itself," Scholz said while visiting the Estonian capital Tallinn. "And at the same time it is clear that the weapons we supplied will only be used on Ukrainian territory," he stressed.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius commented cautiously on the proposal to supply Ukraine with Taurus. French President Emmanuel Macron had expressed readiness to transfer missiles to Kyiv, which would “allow resistance during counteroffensive operations.” Ukraine had already received British Storm Shadow long-range air-launched missiles, and may also receive the same type of weapon from France, but with a different name SCALP-EG. The Su-24M and / or Su-27 were adapted to launch Storm Shadow at the disposal of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Germany's initial inventory of KEPD 350 Taurus was about 600 missiles. The German government is in talks with arms maker MBDA about the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, a security source told Reuters on 11 August 2023, confirming a report by Spiegel magazine. Kyiv has been pushing Berlin to supply it with the Taurus, a missile with a range of more than 500 kilometres that is fired from fighter jets such as the Tornado, the F-15 or the F-18. At the end of May 2023, Kiev requested from Berlin a Taurus with a range of up to 500 km. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the issue of their transfer with Scholz during a visit to Berlin on May 14. According to them, Kyiv "would like to get them urgently." About 600 Taurus missiles were purchased for the Bundeswehr 10 years ago, of which about 150 are ready for operation. Taurus are considered an analog of the British Storm Shadow, which have already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the range of the German-Swedish missiles is slightly longer. On 06 August 2023 Bundestag deputy from the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Andreas Schwartz called on the country's government to provide Kyiv with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. "The counter-offensive has stalled, Ukraine does not have any serious air support. There are only guided weapons, such as Taurus cruise missiles, through which the Ukrainian army could overcome the minefields created by the Russians and retake the territory," he argued in an interview. magazine Der Spiegel . Schwarz was thus the first in the ranks of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party to speak out in favor of granting Taurus to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Previously, some politicians from the Greens, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), as well as the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions, stated that it was necessary to transfer such weapons to Kiev. Schwartz warned that the German authorities, refusing to supply Taurus, allegedly lose precious time. "I see deja vu. As in the issue of supplying tanks, we are now refusing to transfer important equipment, which in the end, most likely, will still be provided," the parliamentarian believes. Commenting on the fears of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius that the Taurus has a "special range" and that Kiev can use them to strike targets in the Russian Federation, Schwartz pointed out that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are already able to reach Russian territory using the Mars artillery systems supplied by him. and HIMARS. "We want to ensure that Ukraine is able to win the war faster. To do this, it needs Taurus-type air-to-ground cruise missiles," the deputy continued. In his opinion, weapons can be launched not only from Western combat aircraft, provided that some changes are made to the design of fighters already in Kyiv. "However, these transformations require time, which in the end may again be insufficient," he believes. According to the magazine, the majority of representatives of the Social Democratic Party of Germany oppose the transfer of cruise missiles to Kiev, while politicians from the Greens and the FDP are open in principle to discussing the issue of providing Taurus from the Bundeswehr stocks. Agnieszka Brugger, a Green faction defense expert, said in an interview with Der Spiegel that Berlin could agree with Kiev that certain territories would be excluded from missile strikes or that weapons would be used only on targets of military importance. 11 August. /TASS/. Deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine by the German government may lead to a further uncontrolled escalation of the Ukrainian conflict. This opinion was made by the deputy of the German parliament from the Left Party Sarah Wagenknecht. “The supply [by the German authorities] of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine would be another step towards an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict,” the politician said on Facebook (banned in the Russian Federation; owned by the Meta corporation, which is recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation). She drew attention to the fact that there are "good reasons" why "even the United States does not supply Ukraine with cruise missiles capable of hitting targets hundreds of kilometers away on Russian territory." In addition, in her opinion, Taurus "will not help Ukraine win a military victory," but will only lead to an increase in the number of victims and destruction. In this context, Wagenknecht called on the government of the republic "not to allow the arms lobby and its supporters to drag themselves into a war with Russia." In her opinion, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz should have "sought a ceasefire and peace talks" between the parties "instead of endless arms supplies." On August 11, the Bild newspaper reported that the German authorities were not yet ready to transfer Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Kiev, contrary to some media reports. According to the publication, both the office of the Federal Chancellor and the Ministry of Defense denied the information that a decision has already been made or is expected to be delivered to Ukraine soon. "No preparations are currently underway to make a decision on this," a senior government official, who requested anonymity, told the newspaper. Der Spiegel magazine wrote that the government of the republic is studying ways to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles from the stocks of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in the coming months, and that allegedly highly classified negotiations are currently underway with representatives of the defense industry. According to him, Chancellor Scholz, through technical modifications to the Taurus, wants to completely eliminate the possibility of Ukraine striking Russian territory with long-range weapons. 11 August. /TASS/. The German government is exploring ways to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus cruise missiles from the stocks of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in the coming months. Currently, highly classified negotiations are underway with representatives of the defense industry, writes the magazine Der Spiegel . German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, through technical modifications to the Taurus, wants to completely eliminate the possibility of Ukraine striking Russian territory with long-range weapons. The chancellor remains concerned about the escalation of the conflict. In the past few weeks, the German Ministry of Defense, according to the publication, turned to the manufacturer Taurus with a request to include an appropriate restriction on targeted programming in cruise missiles. Such a limitation of the system, according to experts, is quite possible, but it will take several weeks. As Der Spiegel explains, Scholz intends to approve the delivery of Taurus to Kyiv only after he is convinced of the technical modification. However, the head of the German government no longer harbors fundamental doubts about this idea, the magazine states. The secret talks with industry represent a turnaround in Germany's position on long-range cruise missile supplies to Ukraine. So far, Scholz and Pistorius have always emphasized that Germany's role in providing arms assistance is seen more in air defense and tank supplies. Similarly, on the sidelines, it was constantly indicated that Berlin did not intend to supply cruise missiles until Washington transferred ATACMS operational-tactical missile systems to Kyiv. However, now this condition no longer plays a big role, sums up Der Spiegel. Discussions around the supply of missiles On August 10, the news portal t-online, citing sources in the ruling coalition in Germany , reported that the German government intends to announce the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine “in the near future”. The office of Federal Chancellor Scholz, according to the publication, is working on the issue of transferring missiles with its key allies, primarily with the United States. Until now, Berlin has rejected the possibility of providing Kyiv with Taurus, the range of which reaches 500 km. As t-online writes, the command of the Air Force of the republic approved the supply of missiles. Last week, Scholz's department asked the Ministry of Defense for important information about the Taurus, in particular about their stocks from the Bundeswehr, possible supply risks and effectiveness. At the end of May, Kyiv requested a Taurus from Berlin. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed this issue with the German Chancellor in Berlin on May 14. Earlier, some politicians from the Greens, the Free Democratic Party, the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions, who were part of the ruling coalition, announced the need to transfer rockets to Kiev, but the Social Democrats were against it. About 600 Taurus were purchased for the Bundeswehr 10 years ago. These missiles are considered analogues of the British Storm Shadow, which have already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the range of the German-Swedish missiles is slightly longer. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that the West's supply of weapons to Kyiv and assistance in training the Ukrainian military only prolong the conflict and will not change the situation on the battlefield. 10 August. /TASS/. The chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Free Democratic Party) advocated the supply of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv. "We have enough Taurus. Most of it is immediately ready for use," Strack-Zimmerman said on Phoenix TV . Ukraine, according to her, is in dire need of this type of weaponry. "And it's time to give the green light," she argued. "I think that the problem is again in the Office of the Federal Chancellor, where they try not to raise this topic," the head of the Bundestag Committee on Defense stated. “I am very annoyed that we are again entering into a discussion that reminds me very much of the debate about the supply of tanks,” Strack-Zimmerman concluded, pointing out that there should be no more delay, given the situation in Ukraine. "In accordance with international law, if Ukraine knows where it is being attacked from, this can also be used proactively to prevent attacks," the politician concluded. Earlier, the t-online news portal , citing sources in the ruling coalition in Germany, said that the German government intends to announce the delivery of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Kiev “in the near future”. According to the publication, now the Office of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is working on the issue of transferring missiles with its key allies, primarily with the United States. Until now, the German authorities have rejected the possibility of providing Kyiv with Taurus, the range of which reaches 500 km. As t-online writes, the command of the Air Force of the republic approved the supply of missiles. Last week, Scholz's department asked the Ministry of Defense for important information about the Taurus, in particular about their stocks from the Bundeswehr, possible supply risks and effectiveness. . /TASS/. The leader of the German opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Friedrich Merz, believes that Germany should supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He stated this on the air of the ARD TV channel 27 August 2023. "I believe that such a decision should be made in Europe, and I do not understand why the German chancellor is guided by the American president," Merz said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly said that all steps on the supply of weapons are coordinated with partners, including those overseas. As the Bild newspaper wrote, Merz advocates that the range of the Taurus be limited so that the missiles do not reach Russian territory and "can only be used on Ukrainian territory."
SCALP
SCALP-EG and Storm Shadow are the same missile with just the launch rail interface and launch software different.Paris does not yet plan to supply Kyiv with SCALP guided missiles capable of hitting targets at long distances. This was reported on 17 May 2023 by the Le Monde newspaper, citing the Elysee Palace. “We are exploring all options,” the publication quoted a source in the administration of French President Emmanuel Macron as saying. “At the moment, this is not planned.”
According to the newspaper, the Elysee Palace is "considering the possibility of supplying certain weapons" after the UK announced the supply of long-range aircraft cruise missiles Storm Shadow, which are analogous to SCALP, to Ukraine. “As with any assistance to Ukraine, France is discussing with its Ukrainian and British partners the results of this assistance, especially with regard to long-range missiles,” said a source close to Macron.
On 15 May 2023, in an interview with TF1 TV channel , Macron said that France is not at war with Russia and does not supply Ukraine with weapons to attack Russian territory. At the same time, he said that the assistance provided by Paris is becoming larger, mentioning the decision to train Ukrainian soldiers in military affairs, as well as maintenance and "bringing into working condition the equipment that has already been delivered." He declined to describe in detail the upcoming deliveries, saying that it could "weaken Ukraine" and assuring that it was not about aircraft.
France said 11 July 2023 it would supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles to help its counteroffensive against Russia. Speaking on Tuesday on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania, French President Emmanuel Macron said the delivery of the missiles was aimed at enabling Ukrainian forces “to have the capacity to strike deeply”. The announcement came months after the United Kingdom began delivering its identical missiles, which it calls Storm Shadow, to Ukraine.
Macron did not say how many of the missiles would be sent but a French diplomatic source told the Reuters news agency they were talking about 50 SCALP missiles. France is understood to have an arsenal of fewer than 400, according to the defence magazine Defense et Securite Internationale. The missiles would come from existing French military stocks, a French military source told the Agence France-Presse news agency, adding that it would be a “significant number”.
Macron did not specify what weapons would be provided but French government officials told reporters the president was referring to SCALP missiles, which can travel 250km (155 miles). SCALP is a 1,300kg (2,870lb) missile armed with conventional explosives, usually launched from aircraft such as the UK air force’s Eurofighter Typhoon or France’s Rafale. Built by European manufacturer MBDA, it is the longest-range Western weapon supplied to Kyiv so far – three times that of Ukraine’s capacities before the UK’s Storm Shadow delivery in May.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that France’s decision to send the missiles “is a mistake” that would have harmful consequences for the Ukrainian side. “Of course, that forces us to take countermeasures,” Peskov said. Russia says Western arms deliveries to Ukraine cannot influence the course of the war, which Moscow refers to as a “special military operation”. They would only aggravate the fate of the “Kyiv regime”, Peskov said.
The decision of French President Emmanuel Macron to begin deliveries of long-range missiles to Ukraine speaks of his ambitions and desire to demonstrate a leading role in Europe. Andrey Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Science at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, expressed this opinion. “Macron is constantly claiming some kind of leadership in Europe. He would like to lead some processes. Now he says that “NATO’s brain is dead,” then he says that it is necessary to create a separate European army that is not subordinate to NATO. Now he says that he will be among the first to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with long-range missiles," the source said, commenting on the French leader's statement about the corresponding supplies.
"This is primarily the ambition to be the dominant leader in Europe. Initially, he competed all the time with [ex-Chancellor of Germany] Angela Merkel, but she left. Now he does not know who to compete with. He believes that he is the leader," Koshkin added. According to the expert, Macron's decision, like other deliveries of Western weapons, exacerbates the situation, since missiles can be used against Russian territory. "All this causes a serious aggravation of the situation in Europe, which can develop into a large-scale clash," the expert said.
The warhead can be programmed to detonate either above the target in what is known as an airburst, on impact or after penetration. Such capabilities are “critical for Ukraine’s forces to disrupt Russian logistics and command and control”, said Ivan Klyszcz, a researcher at the Estonia-based International Centre for Defence and Security. SCALP attacks could help “with Ukraine’s current approach to operations … namely, to advance slowly so as to protect its forces and reduce its own casualties as much as possible”, he added.
The SCALP-EG (Emploi Général, meaning General Purpose) is a French name for "Storm Shadow," the stealthy air-launched long range, conventionally armed, deep strike weapon, produced by European multinational missile-maker MBDA. The missile was based on the Apache, a French-developed, air-launched, anti-runway cruise missile. "The French SCALP rocket is actually a joint development of Great Britain and France," Russian military expert Yury Knutov told Sputnik. "And therefore, many aspects related to the production and use of these missiles are unified. Figuratively, we can say that the SCALP rocket is an analog of the British Storm Shadow."
"The only difference [between the SCALP and Storm Shadow] is the flight range. The export version of the Storm Shadow has a range of approximately 300 kilometers. The export version of the French missiles has a range of approximately 250 kilometers," Knutov explained. The SCALP is powered by a turbojet at Mach 0.8 (987.8 km/h). It weighs 1300 kg which includes a conventional warhead of 450 kilograms. The weapon's length and diameter are 5.10 meters and 0.166 m, respectively, with a wingspan of 3 m. The missile costs approximately $3.19 million per unit.
The SCALP is a "fire-and-forget" missile, meaning that it is programmed before launch. Having been launched the missile cannot be controlled: it follows its path semi-autonomously. Close to its target, the weapon climbs to a higher altitude to maximize the odds of penetrating the target. Finally, it hits the target before a delayed fuse explodes the main warhead.
"If we are talking about the combat use of these cruise missiles, then we should not forget that this is a high-precision weapon," said Knutov. "[The missile's] warhead weighs over 400 kilograms and it is quite powerful. There are concrete-piercing variants with a special high-strength rod inside the rocket; together with the explosive, it allows one to pierce concrete ceilings up to 1.5 meters in thickness. And most importantly, the accuracy of hitting these missiles is very high."
Ukraine's air force would use the Su-24 – a supersonic, all-weather tactical bomber developed in the Soviet Union – for launching the Franco-British weapon. Initially, pictures released by the Ukrainian media showed a Su-24 with a Storm Shadow placed under the fixed-wing "glove" pylon. Ukraine’s Su-24 combat and Su-24MR reconnaissance warplanes have been modified to fire the stealthy long-range missile.
The missile is very difficult to detect due to its extremely small radar cross-section (RCS), according to Knutov. "That is, the Storm Shadow [SCALP EG] has a radar cross-section of 0.01 to 0.03 square meters, which is very small," he said. Nonetheless, Russia's air defenses are capable of detecting and destroying the Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles, Knutov underscored. The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly reported about intercepting the Franco-British stealthy long-range missiles.
What's more, Russian forces' capture of a largely intact crashed Storm Shadow missile may prove invaluable for studying ways to defeat the weapon. The rocket was shot down in the Zaporozhye region and remained mostly intact. Dissecting the missile could uncover its potential weaknesses and determine the optimal direction from which to strike the cruise missile with an interceptor.
"After our military was able to capture such a cruise missile, we now have more opportunities to study it, determine the composite materials from which the body is made, deal with the homing head: the frequencies at which it operates, and the principle of operation of this homing head," said Knutov. According to the military expert, that will allow Russia to improve its radars and missile guidance stations to better detect the stealthy missiles. He explained that studying the body of the rockets is important, because the Russian engineers will be able to see which range of radio waves transmitted by the missile is radio-transparent and which is partly reflected. "It will be possible to create electronic warfare systems that will more effectively affect the homing heads of both Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles," Knutov said.
"I think that in the next month or two we will see that our air defense will operate more effectively [against SCALPs]. Moreover, electronic warfare stations will be mainly used, which is much cheaper than firing projectiles to intercept these cruise missiles," he projected.
Kiev will have to separately modify the carriers for the French SCALP missiles, despite the fact that they are almost a complete analogue of the Storm Shadow previously transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) by Britain, said TASS military observer Vladimir Karnozov. According to Karnozov, the SCALP missile is almost a complete analogue of the Storm Shadow - the products are identical in terms of mechanical parts and characteristics such as range. "They differ only in the radio-electronic component. If the British missile uses sensors of Anglo-American production, then the French one uses sensors of its own production," he noted, pointing out that the missiles require different carriers.
"If in the UK the carriers of this missile are Eurofighter aircraft, then the French Armed Forces do not have such aircraft, their main carrier is the [fighter] Rafale, it does not fully comply with the NATO standard. For example, if you hang an English missile on a French aircraft, then it will not will work. But the Armed Forces of Ukraine still do not have any Western aircraft in service. <...> It is clear that the SCALP missile, designed to be launched from an aircraft, is being transferred. Then the Su-24 and Su-27 aircraft will have to be modified accordingly for this missile" , - he said.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova praised the recent French decision to send Ukraine long-range missiles at a forum in Washington on 12 July 2023 and said any other county that has this type of missile should also send them to Ukraine's front lines. Markarova met with French Ambassador to the U.S. Laurent Bili at a panel discussion as the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, came to a close.
France is increasingly indirectly drawn into the war against Russia due to the supply of weapons to Kyiv, this does not meet the interests of the French. This was stated by Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Meshkov on the air of the Russia-24 TV channel. "Naturally, such a decision cannot be said to be supported by the entire French society, because everyone is well aware that France is more and more drawn into the war against Russia. Even indirectly, this does not at all meet the interests of French society," he said. , commenting on the supply of 50 SCALP long-range cruise missiles by Paris to Kiev. "The act committed by the French government deserves the most severe condemnation," the diplomat stressed.
The supply of French SCALP missiles to Kyiv does not lead to an escalation of the conflict and is dictated by the desire to meet the needs of Ukraine in the field of air defense. This statement was made on 12 July 2023 at a briefing by the official representative of the French Foreign Ministry Anne-Clair Legendre. "The delivery of SCALP missiles, announced by President Emmanuel Macron, is in line with our desire to increase support for Ukraine, including in the long term in response to the Russian attack," she said.
According to her, "the decision is in line with the doctrine regarding the supply of weapons, which Paris has been following since the beginning of the conflict." "Firstly, it is necessary to meet the needs of Ukraine, including the most urgent ones related to air defense and artillery equipment. Secondly, supplies should not lead to an escalation. Thirdly, they should not weaken the capabilities of France itself," Legendre said.
14 August. /TASS/. The European edition of the American newspaper Politico believes that the majority of Germans support German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in refusing to deliver Taurus missiles to Kiev as soon as possible, so one should not expect to send these cruise missiles to Ukraine in the near future. The publication claims that Scholz is more interested in the state of the ruling coalition in Germany than the fate of Ukraine. The newspaper stressed that the delay in deliveries of Taurus is one of the few areas in which the population supports the chancellor. “Scholz is most concerned at the moment not with the fate of Ukraine, but with the fate of his own ruling coalition - an alliance of his party of social democrats, greens and liberal democrats. About 80% of Germans are dissatisfied with the work of the government against the backdrop of an economic downturn and constant squabbles within the coalition over climate policy and other issues. Scholz's personal rating, which is supported by 31% and 66% do not support, is not much better," writes Politico. Scholz, the newspaper writes, is allegedly cunning when refusing to provide missiles soon, saying that he fears the use of these weapons for strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation. “Ukraine needs missiles to help them break through the Russian defensive lines. These lines have been very well fortified, since Kiev did not receive the tanks needed for the offensive quickly enough (especially from Germany). Berlin is playing for time, arguing that it needs to reduce the range of the supplied missiles to prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian territory with them, which means that Ukraine is unlikely to see Taurus (translated as the Taurus zodiac sign) until the next Aquarian Age (in this context, it means very soon or never),” the newspaper concludes. Politico emphasizes that many Germans are against sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine, as this will make Germany an active participant in the conflict in the eyes of the Russian leadership. “If the debate about missiles sounds like the intense discussion that Germany plunged into for months last year on the issue of sending tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine, then it is, because it is all the same discussion,” concludes European edition of an American newspaper. In the words of Scholz Scholz himself, in a Sunday interview with the ZDF television channel , reservedly commented on the possible delivery of Taurus to Ukraine, noting that Berlin, as before, will carefully weigh each individual decision. At the same time, one of the observers of the Welt newspaper noted that Scholz's long hesitation harms not only Ukraine, but also himself, undermining the confidence in the chancellor. "Like the shepherd boy who often yelled 'wolf wolf', he too often used his fear of escalation as an excuse," the article said. At the same time, the material indicated that the Taurus would not change the rules of the game under martial law or on the battlefield. Earlier, the Bild newspaper , citing its own sources, reported that the German authorities, contrary to some media reports, are not yet ready to transfer Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Kiev. According to the publication, both the office of the Federal Chancellor and the Ministry of Defense denied the information that a decision had already been made or was expected to be delivered to Ukraine soon. Discussions around the supply of missiles On August 10, the news portal t-online, citing sources in the ruling coalition in Germany , reported that the German government intends to announce the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine “in the near future”. The office of Federal Chancellor Scholz, according to the publication, is working on the issue of transferring missiles with its key allies, primarily with the United States. Until now, Berlin has rejected the possibility of providing Kyiv with Taurus, the range of which reaches 500 km. As t-online writes, the command of the Air Force of the republic approved the supply of missiles. Last week, the Scholz department asked the Ministry of Defense for important information about the Taurus, in particular about their stocks from the Bundeswehr, possible supply risks and effectiveness. At the end of May, Kyiv requested a Taurus from Berlin. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed this issue with the German Chancellor in Berlin on May 14. Earlier, some politicians from the Greens, the Free Democratic Party, the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions, who were part of the ruling coalition, announced the need to transfer rockets to Kiev, but the Social Democrats were against it. 10 years ago, about 600 Taurus were purchased for the Bundeswehr. These missiles are considered analogues of the British Storm Shadow, which have already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the range of the German-Swedish missiles is slightly longer. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that the West's sending of arms to Kyiv and assistance in training the Ukrainian military only prolong the conflict and will not change the situation on the battlefield. 13 August. /TASS/. The Prime Minister of the federal state of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, spoke out against the supply of long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. "I am categorically against the supply of cruise missiles," Kretschmer told Der Spiegel magazine . The German government, in his opinion, constantly crosses the red lines set by him - first in the supply of Leopard tanks, now in the supply of cruise missiles. He called for "intense new diplomatic initiatives from the free West." At the same time, the Saxon premier praised Germany's responsible and balanced strategy in the field of foreign and security policy. Currently, Kyiv at all levels continues to put pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the issue of supplying Taurus cruise missiles. For example, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper , called on the German government to hand over the Taurus to Kiev, arguing that this would help end the conflict as soon as possible. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko also called for the German Cabinet to make a decision on arms supplies as soon as possible. Scholz himself, in a Sunday interview with the ZDF television channel , reservedly commented on the possible delivery of Taurus to Ukraine, noting that Berlin, as before, will carefully weigh each individual decision. At the same time, one of the observers of the Welt newspaper noted that Scholz's long hesitation harms not only Ukraine, but also himself, undermining the confidence in the chancellor. "Like the shepherd boy who often yelled 'wolf wolf', he too often used his fear of escalation as an excuse," the article said. At the same time, the material indicated that the Taurus would not change the rules of the game under martial law or on the battlefield. Earlier, the Bild newspaper, citing its own sources, reported that the German authorities, contrary to some media reports, are not yet ready to transfer Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Kiev. According to the publication, both the office of the Federal Chancellor and the Ministry of Defense denied the information that a decision had already been made or was expected to be delivered to Ukraine soon. Discussions around the supply of missiles On August 10, the news portal t-online, citing sources in the ruling coalition in Germany , reported that the German government intends to announce the supply of Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine “in the near future”. The office of Federal Chancellor Scholz, according to the publication, is working on the issue of transferring missiles with its key allies, primarily with the United States. Until now, Berlin has rejected the possibility of providing Kyiv with Taurus, the range of which reaches 500 km. As t-online writes, the command of the Air Force of the republic approved the supply of missiles. Last week, the Scholz department asked the Ministry of Defense for important information about the Taurus, in particular about their stocks from the Bundeswehr, possible supply risks and effectiveness. At the end of May, Kyiv requested a Taurus from Berlin. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed this issue with the German Chancellor in Berlin on May 14. Earlier, some politicians from the Greens, the Free Democratic Party, the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions, who were part of the ruling coalition, announced the need to transfer rockets to Kiev, but the Social Democrats were against it. 10 years ago, about 600 Taurus were purchased for the Bundeswehr. These missiles are considered analogues of the British Storm Shadow, which have already been delivered to Ukraine. However, the range of the German-Swedish missiles is slightly longer. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that the West's sending of arms to Kyiv and assistance in training the Ukrainian military only prolong the conflict and will not change the situation on the battlefield. Moscow region, August 14. /TASS/. The 104th division will be recreated as part of the Airborne Forces (VDV) by December 1, 2023. This was reported to TASS by a source close to the Russian military department during the Army-2023 International Military-Technical Forum. "A final decision has been made to recreate the 104th division as part of the Airborne Forces (VDV) in the status of an airborne assault brigade on the basis of the 31st separate airborne assault brigade," the source said. August 14. /TASS/. The new improved BTR-82A armored personnel carrier with increased armor protection was shown for the first time at the Army-2023 forum, a TASS correspondent reports. Previously, this machine was not shown anywhere, its appearance is significantly different from the BTR-82A. As noted in the materials of the manufacturer, the Military Industrial Company, the eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier is designed to accommodate 10 people, is equipped with a 330 horsepower diesel engine and can accelerate on the highway up to 80 km/h. The improved BTR-82A is armed with a 30 mm 2A72 cannon and is able to withstand B-32 armor-piercing bullets. "The armored personnel carrier BTR-82A (improved) with increased ballistic and mine protection is intended for use in combined arms units of the Ground Forces, marines of the Navy and special units for transporting personnel and combating the same type of products, air and surface targets and manpower the enemy and the protection of the combat crew stationed inside the vehicle," the company's materials say. The international military-technical forum "Army-2023" is being held from August 14 to 20 at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center, at the Alabino training ground and the Kubinka airfield. About 1.5 thousand leading Russian enterprises of the military-industrial complex will take part in the exposition and business program. 85 foreign companies and organizations from seven states plan to participate in the forum. 15 August. /TASS/. Omid Nuripur, co-chairman of the Soyuz-90/Green party, which is part of the ruling coalition of Germany, spoke in favor of an early decision on the supply of Taurus long-range missiles to Kyiv. "Ukraine urgently needs additional military assets, which include Taurus cruise missiles. Therefore, a decision should be made quickly on German supplies," the politician said in an interview with Der Tagesspiegel newspaper . "If this requires technical changes [of missiles], then they should be implemented as soon as possible," Nuripur added. Currently, there are fierce discussions in Germany about the need to transfer long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv, which Kyiv requested from Berlin at the end of May. Sources of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed this issue with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on May 14. Some politicians from the ruling coalition's Greens, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), the opposition bloc of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social Unions, are in favor of providing missiles, but most social democrats are still against it. Earlier , Der Spiegel magazine wrote that the German government was exploring ways to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles from Bundeswehr stockpiles in the coming months and that highly classified negotiations were allegedly currently underway with representatives of the defense industry. According to him, Scholz, through technical modifications to the Taurus, wants to completely eliminate the possibility of Ukraine striking Russian territory with long-range weapons. In the past few weeks, the German Ministry of Defense, as the newspaper wrote, turned to the manufacturer Taurus with a request to include an appropriate restriction on targeted programming in cruise missiles. The repair of the Chongarsky bridge after the strike of the Ukrainian troops will last at least a month. This was announced 11 August 2023 by the Acting Governor of the region Vladimir Saldo in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel . "The estimated recovery time is at least a month," he said. Saldo clarified that the land route to Crimea through new regions is coping with the flow after the shelling of bridges in the Kherson region. On August 6, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) attacked a road bridge across the Tonkiy Strait in the area of a favorite tourist beach in the resort area of the Kherson region, a civilian was injured, and a fire broke out on a gas pipeline. In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Chongar bridge and Chongar village with Storm Shadow missiles.
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