The secret about weapons send from Italy to Ukraine is still standing, but new information has just emerged that calls into question the statements made to date by members of the Meloni government and the role of Roma in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. As well as the real impact that certain types of weapons have on the progress of the war. According to what was declared by the British Defense Minister Grant Shapps during a tour of the factory MBDA – one of the largest British military companies – Italy handed over the missiles to the Ukrainian army Storm Shadow. The minister underlined that also the France and the United Kingdom they supplied Kiev with the same product, reiterating information that was already known, unlike the Italian case.
The news is important for at least three reasons. First of all because it provides new clues on the arms shipments approved by Italy and which are still kept secret, despite the promises of the current Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, to make the lists public. Secondly, because it disproves the reassurances of the government on the type of weapons given to Ukraine. Finally, because it calls into question the usefulness of certain weapon systems.
Both Minister Crosetto and the head of the Farnesina, Antonio Tajanihave repeatedly stated that the weapons given to Ukraine would be used for defensive operations and not to conduct an attack against Russian soldiers or even within the territory of the Federation. Words reiterated by the Minister of Defense also on January 10thwhen he confirmed that the eighth military aid package consisted of equipment and weapons systems useful to strengthen the defensive capabilities of Kiev. The government would therefore always deny sending offensive instruments, tracing a Red line initially common to many European states but which some governments have instead slowly begun to overcome. Among these, following the statements of the British minister, Italy is also fully included.
In fact, Storm Shadows are not defensive systems. On the contrary. These missiles began to be talked about a year ago, when the United Kingdom decided to be the first to supply Ukraine with the long-range missiles requested for so long by the president Volodymyr Zelensky. These were precisely the Storm Shadows, i.e. long-range autonomous cruise systems presented as a game changer for the outcome of the conflict.
Shadows have an average range of 250 kilometerscapable of hitting with high precision thanks to the guidance system “fire and forget” (fire and forget), programmable but not modifiable after launch. The missile is also equipped with the Tercom (terrain contour matching), a tool that combines terrain mapping with real-time measurements from a radar altimeter to increase accuracy. Storm Shadows are designed to not be detected from enemy air defenses, they can perform evasive maneuvers in the final stages of flight and are equipped with a double charge: a perforating quarry and an explosive one that comes into action after drilling. The missiles can be launched from various aerial platforms, but in the Ukrainian case they are only supplied to the Soviet tactical bomber Sukhoi Su-24.
The Strom Shadows are therefore very different systems compared to those that Italy claims to send to Ukraine and significantly increase Kiev’s attack capabilities. In fact, missiles are used for hit deep sensitive objectives, such as ammunition depots, command posts, ports e airports and have already been used in the past months against Russian infrastructure Crimeain occupied Ukrainian areas and against ships in black sea. For the Russiathe arrival of the Storm Shadows meant rethinking the security of command posts and infrastructures: the range of action of British-made missiles is much wider than that of rocket launchers Himarsless than 80 kilometers, or of ATACMS sent so far by the United States, with a range of 140 kilometers, although Washington is now preparing to provide the version with a range of 300 kilometers.
Despite this, it’s hard to call Storm Shadow a real thing game changer for the conflict, as has already happened with other systems – including defensive ones – sent in the last two years and often presented as decisive in turning the tide of the war. The first Storm Shadows were sent from the United Kingdom at least a year ago and although they served to hit Russian infrastructure, the latest news coming from Ukraine certainly does not suggest an imminent victory for Kiev.
However, another question remains open: how far will the Storm Shadows strike? Kiev’s allies, including Italy, have long denied sending long-range weapons to prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian territory and thus avert a widening of the conflict. The British supply of these systems to the Ukrainian army broke this taboo some time ago, but we had to wait for the indiscretion of the United Kingdom minister to obtain information on Italy’s involvement. While it remains to be understood how this provision is combined with the declarations of the Meloni government and with the Constitution, cited by Tajani himself in his interview with Future.