In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Russia has accused Ukraine of launching US-supplied missiles at Crimea, a Kremlin-controlled region, resulting in casualties and injuries. The incident, which occurred in the city of Sevastopol, reportedly claimed the lives of at least four people, including two children, and left 151 others wounded. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that US military specialists provided Ukraine with the weaponry and necessary data to carry out the attack.
Following the alleged missile strike, Russia swiftly summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy to its foreign ministry, where officials accused America of engaging in a “hybrid war” against Russia and directly involving itself in the conflict with Ukraine. Moscow issued a stern warning to the US, promising retaliatory measures against what it described as an unacceptable provocation.
The roots of the conflict trace back to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, marking the most significant escalation between the two global powers since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Despite authorizing some missile deployments against Russia, the US has restricted Ukraine from using certain long-range weapons like ATACMS, which Russia claims were used in the attack on Crimea.
Russia Accuses Ukraine of US-Supplied Missile Attack on Crimea, Four Dead
Viral footage from the Russian Embassy in the UK captured the chaotic aftermath in Sevastopol, showing beachgoers fleeing amid explosions. The embassy echoed Moscow’s accusations, emphasizing that such actions would not go unanswered.
As of now, neither US nor Ukrainian officials have publicly commented on the incident in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin has hinted at potential consequences for the US, suggesting it may supply weapons to adversaries of Western countries as retaliation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a recent visit to North Korea, hinted at further actions Russia might take, possibly escalating the conflict beyond current boundaries. Kremlin spokesperson Peskov emphasized that the US’s involvement in actions leading to Russian civilian casualties would undoubtedly lead to consequences, the nature of which remains uncertain but potentially severe.
