Russia Blames U.S. for ‘Barbaric’ Ukrainian Attack on Crimea, Summons Ambassador: Russia has accused the United States of being complicit in a deadly Ukrainian missile strike on Crimea, which resulted in the deaths of at least five people, including children, and numerous injuries. The Kremlin claims that U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles were used in the attack on Sevastopol, a key port city in the annexed peninsula. In response, Russia has summoned the U.S. ambassador and warned of potential consequences for Washington’s involvement.
Kremlin’s Response and Accusations: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov labeled the strike as “barbaric” and accused the U.S. of “killing Russian children.” He emphasized that the U.S. bears equal responsibility with Ukraine for the attack and hinted at possible retaliatory measures. Russian President Vladimir Putin also condemned the strike and suggested that Russia might consider arming other countries to target Western interests.
U.S. and Ukrainian Reactions: The U.S. has not immediately commented on the incident. Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak and Mykhailo Podolyak, defended the strike, asserting that Crimea is a legitimate military target due to its significant military infrastructure. They reiterated that Crimea is part of Ukraine and called for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the peninsula.
International and Local Impact: The attack has intensified the ongoing conflict, with both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians. The incident has led to a day of mourning in Sevastopol and has further strained U.S.-Russia relations, with Moscow calling for international condemnation of the strike.