Letter - August 2024

[your address]

 

Dear [name of your MP]

 

I hope you’re well. As someone who cares deeply about Ukraine, I’m writing to you about Ukraine’s right to self-defence and, more specifically, about Ukraine’s ability to use Storm Shadow missiles.

 

Early on Monday 26th August, Russia launched one of the largest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The launches were made from Russian territory but Ukraine was unable to prevent the launches from happening because of the current ban on UK long-range Storm Shadow Missiles being used on targets inside of Russia.

 

Russia is waging a brutal war on Ukraine. For over 900 days, Russians have been destroying Ukrainian cities, devastating Ukrainian lands, robbing, raping and killing Ukrainian women, men, boys and girls.

 

The Ukrainian use of Storm Shadow missiles on targets inside Russia is quickly becoming a litmus test of support for Ukraine.

 

The missiles have a range of up to 155 miles and therefore could be used to hit bases from which Russia is currently launching devastating attacks on Ukraine.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently asked the UK for explicit clearance to use Storm Shadow on Russian territory, which the Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far declined.

 

The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has previously stated that Ukraine has a right of self-defence under Article 51 of the UN charter, and “providing international law is followed, that does not rule out operations inside Russia". It would seem that the Government is hesitating, as it is worried about escalation.

 

The West’s fear of escalation remains Russia’s greatest weapon. Put simply, nothing has contributed to the escalation of Russia’s war more than the Western fear of angering Russia. And despite western “de-escalation” actions, Russia still launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine two and half years ago.

 

Instead of fearing Russia, the Government needs to be bold in its support for Ukraine. Britain, after all, was the first country to provide NLAW missiles, the first to give modern tanks and the first to send long-range missiles. We need to continue in this vein, in order to help Ukraine win.

 

I kindly request that you write to the relevant minister to seek support on this matter.

 

Best regards,

[your name]