What do experts say about the consequences of supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons?

06/07/2022 10:27 GMT+7

Accordingly, the plan to supply a large number of M31A1 guided missiles, as well as M270 rocket artillery, was announced by the UK on June 6.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that the decision to transfer the M270 to Ukraine was justified because “when Russia’s tactics change, so does our support for Ukraine”. M270 can help Ukraine hit the target at a distance of 80 km.

What do experts say about the consequences of supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons? (Photo: TASS)

“Most likely, the UK will try to use the M31A1 missile against valuable targets. For example, at airports, command posts, railway junctions or important military bases and facilities,” military expert Andrei Frolov told Izvestia.

Mr. Frolov said Ukraine will use these weapons with the utmost caution. “And most likely won’t shoot at cities or settlements,” said Mr. Frolov.

However, according to the sources: “The arrival of such weapons will not change the balance of power.”

“In fact, this is only a replacement for the Tochka-U and BM-30 Smerch complexes used by Ukraine in the special military operation. In terms of accuracy, the British missile is comparable to the Tochka-U”, the expert explained.

“However, the UK cannot supply that many guided missiles, because the country itself does not have a large reserve. Therefore, the mass appearance of foreign mass-launched missile systems with precision-guided munitions on the lines of communication in Ukraine should not be expected, at least in the near future,” Frolov believes.

“For these reasons, British weapons will not be able to make changes directly on the battlefield,” concluded the expert.

According to the Guardian, this move of the UK risks increasing tensions between Russia and the West. When the conflict in Ukraine began, Britain, along with the US and other Western nations, promised to provide only defensive weapons to help Ukraine repel Russian forces. However, as Russia made more advances in eastern and southern Ukraine, the West gradually sent more lethal weapons.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also confirmed that Washington will provide Ukraine with the M142 highly mobile missile system, or HIMARS, after he received assurances from Kiev that it would not be used to attack targets within Russia.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would strike new targets if the West provided longer-range missiles to Ukraine.

“If the West provides Ukraine with long-range missiles, Russia will target targets that have not been hit,” Putin said in an interview with Russia-1 TV channel.

According to Putin, the arms shipments are “nothing new” but warned that there will be a reaction if the US provides longer-range weapons to Ukraine, saying that the military support for Ukraine is not new. Ukraine is aimed at “prolonging the conflict”.

Peace (translation summary)