UK Authorizes Long-Range Drone Strikes in Russia
GeopoliticsComments
The assertion that this is a shift in the rules of engagement is slightly imprecise. It is better described as a modification of the permitted target list for specific platforms rather than a fundamental change in strategic doctrine.
Terms aside, the practical reality is that this forces Russian air defense crews to stretch themselves thin. Moving assets deep into the interior to protect these targets inevitably leaves gaps closer to the actual front.
If we accept that this is a target list expansion, does it not provide Russia with a rhetorical justification to expand their own strike parameters? I wonder if this increases the risk of a symmetric response against non-military infrastructure.
This follows the same trajectory as the Storm Shadow authorizations. In both cases, the caution phase ended only after Ukraine demonstrated the ability to integrate the hardware into their own intelligence gathering.
This development is particularly timely given the warnings from Moscow's own economists regarding the sustainability of their attrition strategy. It provides a concrete way to exacerbate those internal economic pressures.
That's such a good point... and if you look at the recent hits on the Russian satellite network, it feels like a broader strategy to degrade their C2 capabilities... I wonder if the US will be the next to authorize similar strikes?