WATCH | Ukraine Fires British Made Storm Shadow Missile Into Russia

Ukraine has escalated its offensive against Russian targets, reportedly using British-French-me Storm Show missiles to strike inside Russian territory for first time. This follows Tuesday’s deployment of U.S.-me ATACMS missiles into Russia, marking a significant expansion of Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities.

An official confirmed Ukraine’s use of Storm Show missiles to Reuters on condition of anonymity. British media also reported attack, citing unnamed sources. When questioned at a Wednesday press conference, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov neir confirmed nor denied use of missiles but hinted at Ukraine's reiness to leverage all available tools for defense.

“We are using all means to defend our country, so we’ll not go into detail,” Umerov said. “But we are just sending that we are capable and able to respond.” He ded, “We’ll be defending and giving punches back… with all means available.”

UK Ministry of Defense declined to comment, while French Ministry of Defense has yet to respond to inquiries.

Storm Show Missiles: A Game-Changer

Storm Show missiles, supplied by UK and France, have a range of about 250 kilometers (155 miles). Although slightly shorter in range than American ATACMS missiles, which can hit targets up to 186 miles away, y are highly precise and powerful enough to penetrate bunkers.

According to BBC's diplomatic correspondent Paul ams, Ukraine has so far confined use of Storm Show missiles to Russia’s Kursk region, an area where Ukrainian troops maintain a presence following counteroffensive operations. Details on specific target remain unclear, but ams noted that missile’s accuracy and power are well-suited for striking fortified structures.

Here is what you need to know

This latest strike follows Ukraine’s Tuesday use of ATACMS missiles to hit an ammunition depot in Russia’s Bryansk region. U.S. defense officials confirmed that Ukraine launched eight missiles, successfully destroying depot.

Bryansk is located north of Kursk region, where Ukraine has been holding ground reclaimed in recent counteroffensives.

Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons like Storm Show and ATACMS signals a shift in its strategy, enabled by recent decisions from Western allies to loosen restrictions on how se weapons can be deployed. On Sunday, Biden ministration granted Ukraine permission to use U.S.-supplied long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia, furr escalating conflict.

This latest move raises questions about potential for furr escalation in conflict and international community’s role in providing vanced weaponry to Ukraine.