Photo: AP Photo/Efrem LukatskyThe SCALP missile is the French version of the British Storm Shadow missile, a high-precision air-launched missile with a range of more than 250 kilometers.
European leaders joined the president on Monday To Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv at the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Independence Day of Ukraine, while Rusija continued its four-year invasion of the country.
One of the key goals of the president Vladimir Putin in starting the war with Russia's neighbor in February 2022 was to put Kiev in Moscow's orbit.
On August 24, 1991, Ukrainian lawmakers voted to declare the country's independence from Moscow, and a national referendum later that year overwhelmingly approved it.
With no significant change on the front in months and no visible progress after more than a year of US-led peace efforts, both countries are trapped in a spiral of escalating airstrikes that kill civilians and destroy infrastructure.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday that Britain will help Ukraine build its own long-range missiles by sharing classified technical information for British components.
Burnham, who was in Kiev with other international leaders for Ukraine's Independence Day, said defense firm MBDA would release details of parts for the UK-made SCALP missile to help the country assemble the weapon, AP reports.
The SCALP missile is the French version of the British Storm Shadow missile, a high-precision air-launched missile with a range of more than 250 kilometers. Both use common French and British technology.
At 5,1 meters long, the missile is difficult to detect and is designed to hit fixed or stationary targets such as fortified bunkers and key infrastructure. The rocket uses an advanced navigation system and is extremely accurate.
Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles are in service with the British, French and Italian air forces, as well as other exporting countries. They were used in conflicts in Iraq, Libya and Syria.
Ukraine is already in talks with France about cooperation on production lines for missiles in Ukraine so that Kiev can produce its own version of the weapon. It is not known how far advanced the plans are, nor when such missiles could begin to be used by Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Douglas Barry, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that while the UK's decision to share classified information was significant, much depended on the pace at which a local production line could be established.
"Any impact will depend in part on how quickly the SCALP cruise missiles, assembled in Ukraine, can be brought into service," he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that his country is receiving significantly fewer of those missiles, even as Russian ballistic attacks increase. The shortage is particularly severe as the United States and European partners struggle to expand production.
Still, Britain's announcement on Monday drew the ire of Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the UK of "fanning the flames" of war on Kiev's side - a claim Burnham was quick to dismiss.
"Who started the fire?" he asked reporters when asked about Monday's comments.
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