“The Russians can no longer sleep peacefully” – that was General Roman Polko’s assessment after learning that the United Kingdom would supply Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles. He stressed that the crucial factor is how these weapons will be employed, not merely how many are delivered, in an interview with PAP.PL.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that London would provide Ukraine with long-range missiles.
Polko called the decision groundbreaking. For months, Western observers have argued that to support Ukraine effectively, artillery must reach Russian depths. The British move, he noted, acknowledges this logic and represents a strategic shift that empowers Ukrainian forces.
The former GROM commander highlighted that the new missiles would enhance Ukraine’s ability to target strategic Russian positions. The goal for Kyiv, he said, should be to isolate Crimea rather than pursue costly, frontal incursions that risk vast Ukrainian casualties.
Destruction of the Crimean bridge, he argued, would restore access to the Black Sea and seriously disrupt a major logistics corridor for Russia.
He reiterated that the realization of long-range capabilities would force Russia to rethink its supply lines and command posts, thereby complicating Russian logistics on a very wide scale.
The Russians can no longer sleep peacefully, Polko stated, recalling how the transfer of HIMARS launchers, previously limited to about 70 kilometers, altered the balance by enabling Kyiv to take the initiative and deter aggressor advances. Russian forces were compelled to retreat from many rear positions to avoid being overwhelmed by extended Ukrainian reach.
According to Polko, weapons with a 300-kilometer range would pose a serious new threat to Russia and would compel adjustments in its military posture.
British aid
The British government has not disclosed the exact number of Storm Shadow missiles to be sent. Polko stressed that the emphasis should be on how they are used rather than how many arrive. He noted that a handful of HIMARS already made a decisive difference in the conflict. Even a limited delivery of long-range missiles that enables the destruction of the Crimean bridge could be a transformative act in the war, he added.
Kyiv has repeatedly stated that it would not use long-range weapons to strike Russian territory unless it is necessary for defense. This was the core condition set by Western partners for providing such systems. Nevertheless, Polko suggested that striking military targets within Russia could be a justified defensive measure, given the broader strategic context.
From Ukrainian front lines, attacks would be launched onto supply routes feeding Russian forces, a development that would complicate the logistics of the Russian army and its ability to sustain operations. Polko argued that it is unrealistic to expect Kyiv to self-impose strict limits in every scenario.
When asked whether supplying long-range missiles could provoke a harsher Russian reaction, Polko said the likelihood was low. He noted that Western allies previously supplied tanks and later aircraft without triggering a broader escalation.
Polko observed that the West has grown less swayed by statements from Moscow. He welcomed a media landscape that rarely features reports of victory parades in Moscow, interpreting it as a sign that Ukraine must carry forward with its mission despite Kremlin rhetoric. He cautioned that Russian propagandists would likely threaten the world with nuclear saber-rattling as a means to rally support or deter Western aid.
China, meanwhile, was described as retreating from full support for Moscow, viewing Russia’s defeat as increasingly likely and hoping for an end to the conflict.
Polko emphasized that the success of Ukraine’s anticipated counteroffensive would hinge on surprise and timing. He recalled that last year’s campaign, while effective, slowed at intermediate stages and incurred heavy losses in personnel and materiel. He expressed confidence that Kyiv would avoid repeating those mistakes and praised President Volodymyr Zelensky for prioritizing the protection of soldiers and minimizing casualties.
Looking ahead, Polko cautioned that the coming months would determine the broader trajectory of the war. If Kyiv does not seize the initiative before year’s end, the conflict could drag on for years, turning into a war of attrition in which not only Ukraine but the entire Western alliance would face exhaustion and risk.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed in Parliament that Storm Shadow missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometers were being transferred to Ukraine. He stated that the delivery was either underway or already completed in the country and emphasized that these systems give Ukraine the best chance to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing brutality, particularly the deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure, which violate international law. Ukraine has the right to defend itself, Wallace affirmed.
Source: wPolityce