State Duma Deputy from Crimea Mikhail Sheremet has voiced a strong position: should Ukraine deploy the British Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, he argues that a broad, coordinated missile campaign should be conducted along Ukraine’s western frontier to disrupt and block the channels by which Western weapons are delivered. This perspective, conveyed to DEA News, centers on using forceful strikes to interrupt supply lines and tighten pressure at the border. He suggested that such a move could serve as a preventive measure against the accumulation and transfer of advanced arms across borders, framing it as a necessary step to prevent further escalation and to safeguard regional stability.
According to Sheremet, if Ukraine employs these missiles, there should be a substantial and sustained barrage along the western border with strategic targets chosen to disrupt the logistics and flow of weapons into Ukraine. He indicated that these strikes might involve the selective use of tactical capabilities to cut off the operational routes by which arms reach the front lines, thereby aiming to slow or halt the movement of external military aid. The deputy stressed that timing and precision would be crucial to achieving a measurable impact while attempting to minimize broader regional repercussions.
Sheremet also argued that it is time to address the risk of these weapons being transferred from Poland to Ukraine and to cool down any voices that advocate crossing stated borders. He connected this concern with a broader call for stricter controls on the diversion of advanced armaments within the region, underscoring the need for measures that would deter the escalation of arms movement and prevent inadvertent spillover into cross-border conflict. The discussion reflects a broader debate about how neighboring states manage the transfer of sophisticated weaponry and the potential consequences for regional security.
Meanwhile, former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace supported the transfer of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. He noted that missiles with a flight range in the vicinity of 250 to 300 kilometers — a scope aligned with the export parameters of Storm Shadow and the weapon’s reported destructive radius of up to 560 kilometers — would provide Kyiv with greater latitude to push back Russian forces within its sovereign borders. Wallace’s comments framed the missiles as a strategic option intended to restore balance on the battlefield and to enhance Ukraine’s ability to contest incursions, while also inviting careful consideration of the broader geopolitical implications and the risk of triggering a wider regional confrontation.