Russia Blames US for Ukrainian Missile Strike on Sevastopol
In a significant escalation, Russia has accused the United States of direct involvement in a Ukrainian missile strike on Sevastopol in occupied Crimea. The strike, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of four people, including two children, and injured around 150 others. Moscow claims that the missiles used were US-supplied ATACMS, programmed by American specialists.
The Russian Defence Ministry stated that Ukrainian forces launched five missiles equipped with cluster warheads, which were intercepted by Russian air defenses. However, debris from these intercepted missiles fell on a nearby beach in the Uchkuyevka area, causing fatalities and injuries. Footage aired on Russian state TV depicted chaotic scenes as beachgoers fled and the injured were carried away on sun loungers.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the strike as “barbaric” and accused the US of “killing Russian children.” He reiterated President Vladimir Putin’s recent warnings against countries supplying weapons to Ukraine, suggesting that such actions would lead to significant repercussions.
Russia’s Defense Ministry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have asserted that ATACMS missiles cannot operate without direct American military involvement, including satellite guidance. Lavrov, during a meeting in Minsk, reinforced this claim, stressing the supposed necessity of US participation in the missile operation.
The US has been providing ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for over a year, enabling Ukrainian forces to strike targets up to 300 km away. Despite Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the international community largely does not recognize the peninsula as Russian territory, which complicates the legal and ethical dimensions of the conflict.
A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council responded by stating, “Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions and conducts its own military operations.” However, Peskov warned that US involvement “cannot be without consequences,” hinting at potential retaliatory measures.
In response to the strike, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy. Lavrov stated that US involvement in the attack was “not in doubt,” and repeated threats to target countries supplying weapons to Ukraine. President Putin previously hinted at the possibility of supplying equivalent weapons to other regions to target Western interests, indicating a potential for asymmetric responses.
Ukrainian officials have defended the strike, arguing that Crimea is a legitimate military target. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky, described Crimea as “a large military camp” harboring numerous military targets that Russia allegedly conceals behind civilian populations.
The UN’s human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine reports at least 10,000 civilian deaths since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with officials suggesting the true number is likely much higher. This ongoing conflict continues to have devastating humanitarian consequences.
The recent missile strike on Sevastopol and the ensuing blame game between Russia and the US mark a dangerous escalation in the Ukraine conflict. As both sides prepare for potential further confrontations, the international community watches closely, hoping to avoid an even broader conflict.
