As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
Germany’s potential supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine has reignited debate over the risks of escalating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as the missiles’ 500-kilometer range would place critical Russian regions — including the capital, Moscow — within Kyiv’s reach.
The issue gained momentum following recent statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said range limitations on weapons provided to Ukraine have been lifted. “There are no more range restrictions on weapons provided to Ukraine. Not from the British, not from the French, not from us, nor from the Americans,” Merz said after taking office, though he stopped short of explicitly naming the Taurus system.
In contrast to former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who avoided sending Taurus missiles due to concerns over provoking Russia, Merz has signaled a more assertive stance, suggesting deeper cooperation with European allies and broader support for Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
The German-Swedish Taurus missile, known for its low flight path, precision targeting, and ability to neutralize hardened facilities such as bunkers, weighs approximately 1.4 tons and is designed to evade radar detection. With a range of up to 500 kilometers, the missile could enable Ukraine to target Russian regions of military significance including Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Smolensk, Kaluga, Bryansk, and Rostov-on-Don — and even Moscow itself.
The Kremlin has strongly opposed the possibility of Ukraine gaining such reach, calling it a "dangerous step" and an obstacle to peace efforts. Russian officials argue that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons could make NATO a direct party to the war.
"Allegations of supporting peace cannot be reconciled with supplying weapons capable of targeting our capital," said a Russian government spokesperson, labeling the move a sabotage of diplomatic efforts.
Germany is currently Ukraine’s second-largest military backer after the United States. Should Taurus missiles be delivered, they would join a growing list of advanced Western weapons already in Ukraine’s arsenal, including the UK’s Storm Shadow and France’s SCALP-EG missiles.
British and French-supplied cruise missiles have already been used by Ukraine in significant strikes, including attacks on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea. Reports from 2024 indicated the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory for the first time, including a high-profile strike in Sevastopol.
Some versions of the Storm Shadow have a range of up to 555 kilometers, reinforcing the strategic shift that such long-range systems introduce to the conflict.
As Ukraine continues to request advanced weaponry to offset Russia’s battlefield advantages, the debate over Taurus and similar missile systems highlights the delicate balance Western powers face — supporting Kyiv without crossing red lines that could spark broader confrontation.
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