Germany Buys 100s of Cruise Missiles for Ukraine

The missiles range 500 miles

Ukrainian Su-24s launch Storm Shadow missiles. Ukrainian air force capture

Germany is arming Ukraine with a huge arsenal of deep-strike munitions, including long-range drones and new cruise missiles.

In the span of two weeks, the German government signaled separate investments in Ukraine’s best attack drone—the Ukroboronprom An-196 Liutyi (“Furious”)—as well as its first mass-producible cruise missile, apparently the Bars (“Leopard”).

Once deliveries begin, Ukrainian forces should be capable of striking Russian targets as far away as 500 miles, and with a range of effects. The drones would fly slower and may carry lighter, 110-pound warheads. The missiles should fly faster and hit harder with heavier warheads weighing perhaps twice as much.

In underwriting Ukraine’s expanding deep-strike complex, Germany is helping Ukraine do to Russia what Russia has been doing to Ukraine throughout its 41-month wider war on the country: disrupt Russian command, logistics and production where the Russians are most vulnerable—at home.