Russia Accuses US of Missile Attack in Crimea, Vows Retaliation
Moscow, June 25: Amid rising tensions, Russia has accused the United States of orchestrating a ‘barbaric’ missile attack in Crimea, resulting in casualties, including children, and many wounded. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, condemning the incident as a ‘proxy war’ instigated by Washington and promising retaliatory measures.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has framed the conflict as a proxy war with Western support. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US supplies weapons to Ukraine to protect its sovereignty. Ambassador Tracy expressed regret over any civilian casualties from the recent escalation.
The Kremlin criticized the US decision to allow Ukraine to use supplied weapons against Russian targets, warning of potential escalation and repercussions. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the attack on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula involved five US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, with four intercepted and one exploding mid-air. Moscow alleged US specialists coordinated the strikes using data from American spy satellites.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned the missile strike as ‘absolutely barbaric’ and affirmed that Moscow would respond to US involvement. He suggested that European and American governments were responsible for the deaths of Russian children. Peskov also referenced President Vladimir Putin’s remarks on supplying armaments to potentially strike Western targets, including a new military alliance with North Korea, raising concerns among Western allies.
Russian officials have warned about the Ukraine conflict entering a dangerous phase, with Putin emphasizing the risk of broader conflicts involving nuclear powers. Directly accusing the US of orchestrating a deadly attack in Crimea marks a significant escalation in rhetoric. Peskov stated, ‘We perfectly understand who is behind this,’ adding that the involvement of the US in the fighting, resulting in the deaths of peaceful Russians, would have consequences.
