UKRAINE: Reports-Ukraine Fires Anglo-French Storm Shadow Missiles Into Russia

Reports hitting wires claiming that Ukraine has fired up to 12 Anglo-French Storm Shadow long-range missiles into Russia. This comes just a day after Ukraine for the first time fired US-made ATACMS missiles into the Bryansk oblast of Russia. Mikey Smith at The Mirror posts on X: "MOD not commenting on reports of Storm Shadow missile fragments being found across the border in Russia."

• Following US President Joe Biden allowing Ukraine to use its ATACMS, there has been focus on whether the UK and French gov'ts would do the same (having gained the requisite sign-off from the US first due to Storm Shadows utilising US software).
• A rhetorically aggressive Russian response to the developments, including an update to its nuclear doctrine, has seen geopolitical tensions rise. However, with each escalation in Western support for Ukraine (tanks, jets, missiles) there has been a vocal response from Russia but little that suggests direct Russia-NATO conflict is likely.
• With the US, UK, and France (apparently) all now giving permission for Kyiv to fire missiles far into Russia, the actions of the German gov't will gain prominence. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to allow Ukraine to use German-made Taurus missiles to hit Russia. Scholz says "We must not be linked in any way or at any place with the targets that this system achieves," but his stance has garnered criticism from the opposition and coalition allies.
• The RUSI think tank notes some of the issues surrounding the use of long-range missiles, what benefits it could bring Ukraine, and the risks to the West.