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The United Kingdom’s support in the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been significant, marked by both military and cybersecurity contributions. Despite economic challenges and a focus on domestic priorities, the UK has stepped up its support for Ukraine, notably through the provision of advanced weaponry.
In 2023, the UK supplied Ukraine with its domestically manufactured Storm Shadow cruise missiles, with the intention that the long range missiles would be used to strike Russian military assets in the Ukrainian theater. These long-range weapons have been a key tool in wreaking havoc on Russian military assets, particularly in the Black Sea. Reports from this week suggest that Storm Shadow missiles have been deployed against targets inside Russia’s Kursk region, which is currently partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. Moscow claims to have intercepted two Storm Shadow missiles and other projectiles, including HIMARS rockets and drones, marking an escalation in the UK’s approach to the conflict.
Russia’s response has been business as usual; escalation, with Ukraine reporting the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting Dnipro. Although the ballistic missile used against Ukraine did not carry one, ICBMs are generally developed and used to carry nuclear weapons. This is the first time such a weapon has been deployed in the war, originating from Russia's Astrakhan region. The exchange of advanced weaponry underscores the intensifying nature of the conflict. We note that some analysts challenge the classification of the RS-26 as an ICBM, contending that its range, shorter than most ICBMs, places it in a gray area between intercontinental and intermediate-range missile categories.
Beyond conventional warfare, the UK faces threats in the cyber domain, not least arising from its support for the Ukrainian state. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden highlighted these concerns at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference, warning that Russia is prepared to launch cyberattacks targeting UK infrastructure and businesses aimed towards eroding domestic support for Ukraine. McFadden described cyber warfare as “destabilizing and debilitating,” accusing Moscow of leveraging hacking groups, including its Unit 29155, which has previously been linked to high-profile incidents including the Salisbury poisonings of 2018.
Recent cyberattacks on British councils, including those in Middlesbrough, Salford, Portsmouth, and Tees, have been attributed to pro-Russian hacking groups, claims McFadden. The MP emphasized the impunity with which these Kremlin-sanctioned groups operate, provided that they align with Russia’s strategic goals. He urged NATO allies to take the Russian cyber threat seriously, describing it as a "hidden war" that demands a coordinated response. The UK’s dual focus on military and cyber defense underscores its commitment to supporting Ukraine while addressing threats to its own national security amidst an increasingly volatile conflict.
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