Russian Cruise Missiles were launched in a significant retaliatory attack after Ukraine fired a volley of 10 Storm Shadow cruise missiles at targets in the Kursk region of Russia
Russian Cruise Milles is the new set of warfare added to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia War. It is a disturbing development for the sake of world peace. This attack, however, was a retaliation to Ukraine’s use of Shadow Cruise Missiles against Russia’s Kursk region.
This heightened conflict started after US President Joe Biden sanctioned the use of longer-range missiles to target deep targets within Russia. Russia made a strong statement by updating its Nuclear Doctrine, and testing its ICBMs (Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles). This did not go well with Ukraine and yesterday it used British-made Shadow Cruise Missiles to target 10 regions in Russia’s Kursk.
Russian Cruise Missile: US to Blame?
Recent developments can be directly linked to the U.S. approval of Ukraine using long-range ATACMS missiles to target deep regions of Russia. President Joe Biden had given this approval. Ukraine used this opportunity to use British-made Shadow Cruise Missiles to target 10 regions inside Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukraine fired a volley of 10 Storm Shadow cruise missiles specifically targeting the town of Maryino, Kursk, 40 km from Ukraine. The target was an underground military command post. According to Ukraine, the post had Russian commanders and North Korean officials.
The UK through the use of its missiles has given consent to Ukraine like the US to target deep targets within Russia.
Russian Cruise Missile: Retaliation by Moscow
Russia warned the West by launching its ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) to demonstrate its intercontinental target-hitting capacity anywhere in the world. After Ukraine targeted Kursk, Russian Cruise Missiles retaliated against Ukraine on Nov 21, 2024.
Along with the Russian Cruise Missiles, it also used Kinzhal hypersonic missiles along with several other cruise missiles.
Ukraine reported the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) but the US quickly refuted the findings claiming the missile was an intermediate-range instead.
Russian Cruise Missile: Categories of Missiles Used
| Missile Name | Usage | Details |
| Storm Shadow | Designed for air launch and precision targeting capabilities | Anglo-French long-range cruise missile with a range of up to 250 kilometers, costs around $1 million |
| Kalibr | used for anti-ship, anti-submarine, and land attack missions | capable of being launched from ships, submarines, and aircraft |
Russian Tu-95 bombers struck several key locations in Ukraine launching a massive cruise missile assault.
Conclusion
This exchange of missile fire is a testament to escalating tensions between the two countries and loss of life, damages in billions of dollars, and a prelude to WW3. Russia has already changed its nuclear policy to keep NATO in check.
The ground reality in the Russia-Ukraine war has also changed. Ukraine now can strike deep into Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons—a phenomenal shift in military dynamics. Russia on the other hand using the Russian cruise missiles can target its enemies to protect its national borders, this includes the NATO situation.
One can only hope, an intervention by a powerful international leader can diffuse the situation, such as Donald Trump taking over American Presidency in January next year. Donald Trump has already expressed concern over the current fight going on between Russia and Ukraine and called out to both parties to cease fighting immediately.
The war according to him is a prelude to World War 3. The first act as he resumes power would be to bring both parties to the peace table and make them start negotiating ways to resolve differences.
Also Read: Russia’s ICBM Launch: A Bold Message to Kyiv and Western Allies