On Sunday, a Ukrainian missile attack in Crimea resulted in the deaths of four civilians and over 150 injuries. The attack, which took place on a public beach in Sevastopol, marked one of the highest civilian casualty figures since the start of the conflict in Russian-controlled territory.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has accused the United States of being responsible for the attack, citing American satellite data as evidence that ATACMS missiles were used. The ministry has summoned the American ambassador Lynne Tracy to discuss the incident. However, Russia’s version of events has shifted over time, with initial claims that the attack was repelled later turning into accusations against Ukraine for deliberately targeting civilians.
While Kiev has not directly commented on the incident, there are suggestions that the Ukrainian missile may have been aimed at military targets near civilian areas in Crimea. This has led to criticism from Russian authorities over their failure to protect civilians and their lack of adequate warning systems and protective structures in military targets’ vicinity.
The debate around the use of Western weapons on Russian soil has escalated, with some commentators calling for drastic measures such as destroying American satellites in response to the attack. Former Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev drew parallels between terrorist attacks in Dagestan and equated American involvement in the incident to extremist groups’ actions.
The situation remains tense as both Russia and America exchange accusations and threats after this tragic event in Crimea.
