Strom Shadows Used to Strike Targets inside Russia

Thought for Thursday

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken.

Strom Shadows Used to Strike Targets inside Russia

London has followed suit with Washington in giving the green light for British made missile systems to be used to strike targets inside Russia.

While Whitehall has not given any official communication, it’s understood that 12 of the UK’s Storm shadow missiles were deployed last night, hitting a command headquarters in the village of Maryno, Russia.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the command centre may have been being used by Russian and North Korean officers.

The low-observable, long-range air-launched cruise missile have a range in excess of 250km, enabling Ukraine to strike targets further into Russia.

Leading with the story, The Times stated that this represents a “marked intensification” of Britain’s involvement in the war.

Meanwhile The i paper understands it to be a “bold, dangerous stroke - intended to break the spine of Russia's operations inside Ukraine".

Nevertheless, while it represents a considerable development in diplomatic terms, some commentators are focusing on how the decision may have limited operational impact given the number of Storm Shadows available to Ukraine.

For example, Sky News’ Security and Defence Editor maintains that “There is also the uncomfortable reality that the number of Storm Shadow missiles that Ukraine has left is severely limited - the production of replacement stockpiles will take years - so the use of these weapons on Russian soil will only have a marginal military effect.”

EU to Impose Firmer Conditions on Chinese Firms

The EU Looks set to introduce tougher measures on Chinese firms in an effort to reciprocate Beijing’s competition rules. Under the proposals, Chinese firms would be required to have factories in the Bloc alongside transferring intellectual property if they are to receive EU subsidies.

According to the FT, the plans “represent part of a hardening stance from the EU towards China as it seeks to protect companies in the bloc – subject to strict environmental regulations from being undercut by cheap and more polluting imports”.

The decision, which is yet to be announced or formalised, follows Brussell’s decision on 30 October to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles of up to 35.3%. Here, the EU released a statement which said that an “investigation found that the BEV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidization which is causing threat of economic injury to EU producers of BEVs”

The investigation cited above, was one which was announced by Ursula von der Leyen in September of 2023 given the Bloc’s “growing evidence about the recent and rapid rise in low-priced exports of electric vehicles coming from China to the EU”.

Ten member states, including France and Italy, supported the implementation of the legislation, while five countries, including Germany and Hungary, opposed it alongside 12 abstentions.

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Public Sector Net Borrowing Soars

Data out this morning shows that the UK budget deficit is continuing to widen as government spending soars. Public sector net borrowing rose to ￡17.4 deficit over October, marking the second highest October borrowing since records began in 1993 and the second highest October deficit on record.

Last month’s figure was also ￡1.6bn higher than last year’s monthly print.

Commenting on the data, one director at the ONS said that “with spending on public services, benefits and debt interest costs all up on last year, expenditure rose faster than revenue overall.”