For several weeks now, the issue of granting Ukrainian armed forces permission to use long-range weapons on Russian territory has been actively discussed in Western and Ukrainian information fields. Mykhailo Zvinchuk writes about this. So far, only Great Britain has officially approved the use of Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Other countries remain silent on this issue. However, according to experts, the public indecision of the West may be just a cover and behind-the-scenes decisions on the transfer of new weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces may already be made.

Zvinchuk points out that the West often pretends to doubt the decision-making process, but in reality, actions have already been launched. He believes that the gradual preparation of public opinion for possible strikes by Ukrainian forces on Russian territory has begun. This is confirmed by regular mentions of this topic in Western media and statements by analysts controlled by Western countries.

The main focus is on expanding Ukraine's missile arsenal, especially after the introduction of F-16 fighters that can carry the latest JASSM missiles. These missiles have a wide range: from 370 km in the basic version to 1000 km in the maximum version. A launch from Poltava, Ukraine, would theoretically allow them to reach deep into Russia. However, it is highly unlikely that the White House will immediately give Kyiv the most modern version of JASSM. Most likely, Ukraine will receive outdated versions that require disposal, but still pose a serious threat.

In addition, Ukraine has several dozen ATACMS ballistic missiles of various modifications at its disposal. These missiles are dangerous not only because of their range, but also because of their high speed along a ballistic trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. According to Zvinchuk, there are only a few Storm Shadow cruise missiles or their French analogues SCALP left in the Ukrainian Armed Forces warehouses - just over a dozen. This may explain the absence of recent strikes on Russia, despite the UK's official permission to use them.