UK to Share Classified Missile Technology with Ukraine
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces British technical assistance to help Ukraine assemble long-range SCALP missiles as Independence Day observances continue under Russian attack.
London / Kyiv2 min read
Last updated
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on August 24 that the United Kingdom will share classified technical information so Ukraine can assemble its own long-range SCALP missiles.
The announcement came as Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day with ceremonies in Kyiv that remembered fallen troops. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance and described the day as a moment of stubborn national resilience after more than 1,600 days of full-scale war.
Burnham framed the technology transfer as a practical step to strengthen Ukraine's ability to strike at range. SCALP is the French designation for the Storm Shadow cruise missile already supplied by Britain and France. Local assembly would reduce dependence on Western stocks and allow higher production rates.
The European Union the same day approved a 6.1 billion euro defence package for Ukraine under its larger 90 billion euro loan programme. The funds are earmarked for air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly cited shortages of air defence interceptors as the reason civilian casualties continue to rise from Russian missile and drone attacks. Western leaders arriving in Kyiv for Independence Day events used the occasion to reaffirm material support.
Russia continued strikes over the weekend, including a double-tap attack on a shopping centre that killed 16 people according to Ukrainian authorities. Ukrainian forces responded with strikes on Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, including sites linked to the Ozon retail network near St Petersburg.
The British decision to share classified component data marks a further step in the gradual transfer of production capability. Earlier programmes focused on artillery shells and basic drones. Long-range cruise missiles require more sophisticated guidance and propulsion knowledge.
No timeline was given for the first Ukrainian-assembled SCALP. British officials said the information would be provided under strict controls to prevent reverse engineering or diversion.
Independence Day ceremonies remained sombre. Zelenskyy told the country that the circle of mutual support among Ukrainians had not broken and would not break. He submitted a separate bill to create a Ukrainian National Pantheon to formalise remembrance of those who fought for independence across centuries.
The combination of British technology sharing and EU financing underscores the current Western approach: sustain Ukraine's defensive and limited offensive capacity while avoiding direct NATO combat involvement.
