At long last the USA and Britain look likely to relax the restrictions on weaponry they have supplied to Ukraine. Up until now some systems have been restricted to being used only in Russia-occupied Ukraine, including Crimea, and the international waters of the Black Sea.
This applies particularly to the 190-mile range US ATACMS ballistic missile and the 155-mile range Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles, which will be able, all things being equal, to strike into mainland Russia.
The effect of this will be to push the bases from which Russia has been mounting its own missile and glide bomb attacks against Ukraine further back into the Russian hinterland, and also to bring many more ammunition and logistic facilities within range.
This being the case, Ukraine will gain more warning time to react and defeat Russian air-launched assaults, which will be a major improvement for their air defences.
The lifting of restrictions has been the topic of pleas from President Zelensky to the Americans for many months and a subject much discussed in western corridors of power.
Lt Col Stuart Crawford is a defence analyst and former army officer. Sign up for his podcasts and newsletters at www.DefenceReview.uk
Lt Col Stuart Crawford’s latest book Tank Commander (Hardback) is available now
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