If the United States were to transfer long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, they would be difficult to deploy, as Ukraine does not have strategic aircraft from which to launch them, according to a Ukrainian military intelligence official.

Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR, told reporters that Tomahawk missiles are “not easy to use” and require either combat ships or strategic bombers as launch platforms.

“We don’t have any strategic bomber aircraft,” he acknowledged, according to The Guardian.

The deployment reality emerged as Ukraine waits for details about Trump’s 14 July promise of “billions of dollars” in military aid. Speaking alongside NATO’s Mark Rutte, Trump announced a “very big deal” where European allies would buy American weapons and ship them to Ukraine.

But what exactly did Trump promise? Even Ukrainian intelligence isn’t sure.

“We don’t know exactly,” Skibitskyi admitted about Trump’s offer of “17 Patriots.” The number could mean interceptor missiles, launch stations, or complete battery systems.

Ukraine currently operates six functioning Patriot batteries. Each system includes six launchers. Germany promised two systems, the Netherlands one more. That’s 18 launchers across three batteries—close to Trump’s figure of 17.

“Seventeen is a huge number if we are talking about batteries,” Skibitskyi said. “If it’s launchers, that’s possible.”

Tomahawk missiles can reach Moscow

The discussion of Tomahawk missiles stems from a 4 July phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which Trump asked if Ukraine could strike Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Zelenskyy replied: “Yes, absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.” However, Trump stated on Tuesday that Ukraine should not target Moscow.

Ukraine strikes deep inside Russia to stop the relentless bombing of its cities. By hitting airfields, weapons factories, and drone launch sites, Ukraine aims to cripple Russia’s ability to launch the massive missile and drone attacks that have killed record numbers of Ukrainian civilians.

The precision cruise missiles have a range of 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) and are capable of reaching the Russian capital. Previous Ukrainian requests for Tomahawks were rejected by the Biden administration, and the Trump administration has not agreed to provide them.

How important are these missiles to Ukraine? Important enough that Zelenskyy included them in the classified section of his Victory Plan. When media reports revealed this detail, Zelenskyy expressed frustration, stating that “this means there is nothing confidential between partners.”

The Washington Post reported earlier that Trump was considering providing long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. However, the US has decided not to do so for now.

Ukraine needs approval for deep strikes inside Russia with western weapons

Despite the deployment challenges, Skibitskyi emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s ability to conduct strikes deep inside Russia against military targets. He said discussions continue with Washington about lifting restrictions on ATACMS missiles, which have a 300-kilometer (186 miles) range and are currently limited to use in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine rather than Russian territory.

“It’s very important for us to get approval from the US to use long-range missiles,” Skibitskyi said. “We want to destroy and to disrupt, in accordance with NATO procedure.”

The Washington Post reported on 15 July that the Trump administration was likely to allow ATACMS to be used inside Russia at full range and was considering sending additional missiles.

Why does range matter? Russia moved its strategic bases beyond 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Ukraine’s border. Ukrainian kamikaze drones can reach them but carry only 50 kilograms of explosives compared to ATACMS’ 500-kilogram payload.

Following Trump’s announcement, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands expressed interest in participating in the plan for Europe to purchase US weapons for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also described having a “really good conversation” with Trump about achieving “lasting and just peace” and stopping Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Russia says it doesn’t care about Trump’s threats

Politicians in Kyiv have welcomed the improved relations with the US, though some expressed frustration that US tariffs and secondary sanctions on Russia have been postponed again, with Trump setting a 50-day deadline.

Meanwhile, Russian officials dismissed Trump’s threats, with former president Dmitry Medvedev writing on X that “Russia didn’t care” about what he called Trump’s “theatrical ultimatum.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly responded, reportedly evaluating how to shape the narrative to avoid escalation in September.

The Ukrainian Military Intelligence has identified Russian Major Denis Sheynov as responsible for the 8 July 2024 missile strike on Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, where more than 600 children, including cancer patients, were present at the time of the attack.

This is not the first time Russia has launched strikes immediately following peace talks with international leaders — a pattern of demonstrative terror.

“Major Sheynov was responsible for the technical preparation of Kh-101 cruise missiles for combat use by strategic aviation,” Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) states.

The missile hit the toxicology building, completely destroying the oncology, surgical, and intensive care units, and leaving Ukraine’s only pediatric radiotherapy department without electricity, water, or oxygen. Two adults, including a doctor, were killed. Over 50 people, including children, were injured.

Sheynov, born on 30 January 1978, in Saratov, is a graduate of the Saratov Military School, served in Syria, and was decorated for “special operations.” According to HUR, he performed special missions in Syria in 2018.

Russia, as a terrorist state, systematically uses violence against civilians as part of its military strategy, both in Ukraine and earlier in Syria, where Russian airstrikes devastated cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Ariha.

These bombings targeted residential areas, hospitals, markets, and infrastructure, killing thousands and causing a humanitarian catastrophe. Russia also used internationally banned weapons, including cluster bombs and chemical agents, reinforcing its willingness to destroy civilian life to achieve military goals.

Okhmatdyt was Ukraine’s only hospital treating childhood cancer with radiation therapy. Its destruction is a devastating blow to pediatric oncology during wartime.

On 7 July, Ukraine’s military intelligence released a Russian general’s telegram ordering a reinforcement of troops at the Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia—directly contradicting Yerevan’s public denial of the Russian military buildup the day before.

Armenia says no troop increase—Ukraine shows otherwise

On 6 July, Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan dismissed Ukraine’s earlier claims of a Russian troop buildup, calling the information false.

The statement emphasized Armenia’s “principled position” against allowing third countries to use its territory for hostilities against neighbors. Yerevan insisted Russia was not increasing its military presence on Armenian soil.

Badalyan referred to the Ukrainian intelligence earlier statement as “certain fabricated reports.” 

Not so fabricated: Leaked Russian document reveals troop selection and deployment

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) responded on 7 July by publishing a telegram from Major General Serhii Zemskov, acting chief of staff of Russia’s Southern Military District. The document contains an explicit order from the district’s commander to “reinforce” the Russian military base in Gyumri via what is described as “additional staffing.”

The order directs commanders to urgently select personnel from four armies—namely, the 8th, 18th, 49th, and 58th general armies of the Southern Military District—for future deployment. The timeframe for selecting candidates was from 13 May to 11 June 2025. Those chosen would then sign their first contracts and be dispatched to the base in Armenia for service.

Strict screening and recruitment criteria set for candidates

The leaked telegram instructs commanders to facilitate the selection process. It outlines specific criteria for professional fitness, psychological resilience, and combat readiness. The order explicitly bans the recruitment of individuals involved in drug trafficking or the distribution of psychotropic substances.

HUR’s initial report

The Ukrainian intelligence’s original report, issued on 5 July, stated that Russia was rapidly staffing its Gyumri base to increase military-political pressure on the South Caucasus. According to HUR, the effort is part of a broader Kremlin strategy aimed at global destabilization. The initial report said that troops were being recruited from Rostov and Volgograd oblasts, as well as from occupied Crimea.

HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov described the deployment as one piece of a broader plan:

“The deployment of Russian troops in Armenia is part of a complex Kremlin strategy aimed at destabilizing the global security situation.”

Gyumri base

The Russian base in Gyumri, known as the 102nd military base, is the largest Russian military facility in the South Caucasus. As of now, it hosts around 5,000 personnel—approximately 2,500 Russians and 2,000 Armenians. The base includes MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 air defense systems and was established in 1995 under an agreement between Moscow and Yerevan that runs until 2044.