Ukraine's new weapon reach falls short of turning tide
After three years of war, Ukraine has received permission to use Western weapons to attack targets in Russia, but it possesses too few of them. While these impressive attacks highlight the weaknesses in Russian air defense and capture global media attention, they do not bring about decisive losses that could change the war's trajectory, according to an expert from the Center for Eastern Studies.
6:11 PM EST, November 26, 2024
"The Ukrainians' capability for long-distance strikes remains very limited," stated Jacek Tarociński, an analyst from the Center for Eastern Studies (OSW), in an interview with PAP.
The decision made by the United States, followed by the United Kingdom and France, to allow the use of Western weapons to attack targets in Russia marks a significant development. However, Ukraine still lacks sufficient strike resources.
Currently, Kyiv has access to two types of Western weapons with ranges of 186 miles and possibly longer.
Western long-range weapons in Ukraine
The first type includes ATACMS missiles—ballistic missiles designed for use with HIMARS/MLRS launchers. Ukraine may have received various ATACMS versions ranging from 99 to 186 miles. The greater range was achieved by reducing the warhead's weight to allow for more fuel.
The second type of Western long-range weapon is the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-launched missile. These missiles have a range of up to 311 miles, although Ukraine may have received a version with a reduced range of around 186 miles. They are stealthy and carry a warhead weighing 992 pounds. A significant challenge for Ukraine is that these are air-launched weapons, so the aircraft must carry them into the air before launch.
Jacek Tarociński also highlights that Ukraine has limited stocks of Western missiles—approximately 100 units. "These quantities are not sufficient to inflict strategic losses on Russia," the expert concluded.
