**Germany’s Taurus Missiles: A Game-Changer for Ukraine?**
A statement from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sparked hope in Ukraine that Berlin is finally considering sending Kyiv its Taurus missiles. The long-range cruise missile, capable of penetrating and destroying deep Russian fortifications, would be a major upgrade to Ukraine’s deep-strike firepower.
The excitement was fueled by Merz’s statement on May 26, where he said there were no longer any restrictions on the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine. However, his clarification the next day that he was referring to permissions given by Ukraine’s allies last year dampened expectations somewhat.
**Why hasn’t Germany sent Taurus to Ukraine?**
Germany’s stance on not sending Ukraine Taurus missiles has been a long-standing one, driven largely by Olaf Scholz, Merz’s predecessor. The fear of escalation and the potential for further conflict in Ukraine have kept Berlin from delivering these powerful weapons.
“Delivering Taurus at this point is less for the Ukrainians and more for the Germans because Taurus has become this ultimate symbol of German fear and escalation angst,” said Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo specializing in missile technology.
**The importance of Taurus**
While Ukraine has been using U.S.-made ATACMS and UK-French Storm Shadows for over a year, Taurus would represent a significant upgrade to its deep-strike firepower. The missile can penetrate and destroy denser Russian fortifications, making it a valuable asset in the war against Russia.
The primary distinction between Taurus and other cruise missiles is the design of the actual warhead – Taurus can be programmed to explode after hitting a specific target, such as a bunker.
**The delay**
Despite Merz’s statements about the possibility of sending Taurus to Ukraine, there has been no confirmation of actual delivery. MBDA Deutschland, Taurus’ manufacturer, has said they are prepared to support the German government and Ukraine with the necessary integration, training, and logistics if a political decision is made.
However, experts believe that the Taurus is unlikely to be a game-changer in the war and that while targeting the Crimean Bridge would be a big symbolic victory for Kyiv, Ukraine needs it primarily to replenish its long-range weapons stockpile.
“This is a key advantage. It’s mostly about the quantity and the number of missile systems available in Ukraine’s arsenal,” said Hoffmann.
**The target: Putin’s Crimean Bridge**
Constructed after Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea in 2014, the Crimean Bridge has been a repeated target of Ukrainian strikes, suffering significant damage in October 2022 and July 2023. Taurus could potentially change that.
However, experts believe that Ukraine needs Taurus primarily to replenish its long-range weapons stockpile, rather than to take out specific targets like the Crimean Bridge.
**Conclusion**
While Merz’s statements have sparked hope in Ukraine, there has been no confirmation of actual delivery of Taurus to Ukraine. The delay is likely due to Germany’s ongoing fear of escalation and the potential for further conflict in Ukraine.
However, if delivered, Taurus would represent a significant upgrade to Ukraine’s deep-strike firepower, making it a valuable asset in the war against Russia.
