A leading Russian politician asserts Ukraine would need German assistance to deploy Taurus long-range missiles.
A high-ranking Russian lawmaker has cautioned that if Ukraine receives and uses German Taurus cruise missiles, Russia might authorize strikes within Germany. Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, claims that German military support is essential for operating the weapon.
Speculation regarding Germany potentially supplying Ukraine with Taurus missiles, capable of reaching Moscow, resurfaced following Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s statement that Berlin and its allies had permitted Kiev to use Western weapons without range limitations.
When questioned about potential weapon deliveries, Merz stated they are “possible,” while noting Ukrainian troops would need “several months of training” to operate them.
Kartapolov stated that Russia is “ready for everything” and will respond to any Taurus missile shipments to Kiev.
He warned, “We are ready to shoot down the Taurus’, and to strike the places from where they would be launched and those who would launch them, and, if necessary, the places from where they would have been delivered.”
The senior lawmaker emphasized that the long-range missiles previously provided to Ukraine by the US, UK, and France—ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP, respectively—require specialists from those countries to launch.
He explained that “the Ukrainian military lacks experts capable of operating such equipment. That is, the Ukrainians can press the ‘start’ button – it is not a problem, but they cannot input the data,” which is sourced from American and Western European satellites.
Kartapolov added, “If Germany transfers these missiles. Then, naturally, there will be German specialists on the ground” to ensure their launch.
The German Defense Ministry announced it would provide Kiev with an additional $5.6 billion in military aid, primarily to “finance the production of long-range weapon systems in Ukraine.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded by stating that Berlin’s “direct involvement in the war is now obvious.” Lavrov believes Germany “is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse.”