London has opted not to confirm the provision of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine or grant permission for strikes on Russia.

The UK Defence Minister, John Healey, on November 20, declined to confirm reports that Ukraine had used British Storm Shadow missiles to strike targets within Russia.

“In recent weeks, we have observed significant changes in actions and rhetoric regarding Ukraine, and Ukraine’s actions on the battlefield speak for themselves,” Healey stated to Parliament members on November 20.

Previously, Telegram channels and media outlets reported that Ukraine had attacked a military facility in the Bryansk region of Russia using Storm Shadows, marking the first instance of their use on Russian territory.

Healey did not confirm this information but mentioned that he met with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov the day before to discuss “Ukraine’s resolute response to the recent Russian escalation.”

By escalation, he referred to the mass attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities and the involvement of North Korean troops in the military actions of Russian forces in the Kursk region.

The ministers discussed the UK’s plans to continue supporting Ukraine until the end of 2025, Healey noted. “At this moment, I cannot delve into any additional operational details,” he said.

As reported by the BBC, the UK does not want to be perceived as a party involved in the war.

A source from the British Ministry of Defence stated that the first news of a British Storm Shadow missile being used to hit a target in Russian territory would come only after it had occurred.

London wants this moment to be seen as a decision made by the Ukrainian military, not by Britain.

The United Kingdom has, in fact, been more willing than Washington to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons. However, the British government has acted with great caution. Delicate negotiations have taken place behind closed doors.

“The first use of Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia is a significant moment. But it was never intended that trumpets would sound before their use,” the publication states.

Different versions of the Storm Shadow missiles have a range of 250–560 km. The Ukrainian Armed Forces have already used Storm Shadows to strike Russian military targets in occupied Crimea.