The United Kingdom authorized European defense group MBDA to share classified blueprints of the SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missile with Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to pursue domestic assembly of this weapon with a range exceeding 250 kilometers. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the decision on August 24, 2026, Ukraine’s Independence Day, during his first foreign visit as prime minister. This move aligns with France’s earlier commitment to help Ukraine establish local missile assembly lines, as part of a broader European effort to reduce Kyiv’s reliance on foreign supply chains. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the decision, calling it an escalation. Analysts caution that building domestic missile production capabilities takes years, meaning battlefield impact will not be immediate.
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