A woman reacts at a makeshift memorial to victims of a shelling, which Russian authorities say was a Ukrainian missile strike in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Sevastopol, Crimea June 24, 2024. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak
On Monday, the Kremlin attributed an attack on Crimea to the United States, stating that U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles were responsible for the strike, which resulted in at least four fatalities and 151 injuries. In response, Moscow issued a formal warning to the U.S. ambassador, indicating that retaliatory actions would follow.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to the most significant confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Russian officials have indicated that the conflict is entering a particularly dangerous phase. The direct attribution of the attack on Crimea to the United States, a territory annexed by Russia in 2014 but widely recognized as part of Ukraine, marks an escalation in the rhetoric.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the role of Western governments in the incident, suggesting they were responsible for the deaths of Russian children. According to Russian officials, at least two children were among the casualties in the attack on Sevastopol. Footage showed people fleeing a beach near Sevastopol and some injured individuals being carried away on sun loungers.
Russia has accused the United States of not only supplying the missiles but also providing the necessary targeting data and military expertise. Neither Ukraine nor the United States has issued comments on the attack.
U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where she was accused of Washington waging a hybrid war against Russia, effectively making the U.S. a party to the conflict. The Russian government warned that retaliatory measures would ensue, emphasizing that the attack would not go unpunished.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly highlighted the risk of a broader conflict involving nuclear powers, although he has stated that Russia does not seek a confrontation with NATO. President Joe Biden has similarly ruled out the deployment of U.S. troops to Ukraine, emphasizing that a direct conflict between NATO and Russia could lead to World War III.
Putin has characterized the war in Ukraine as part of a larger struggle with the United States, accusing it of disregarding Russia’s interests following the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991 and attempting to undermine Russia. Western leaders and Ukraine, however, view the conflict as an imperialistic land grab by Russia. Both sides deny intentions to destroy the other, with Russia asserting no plans to invade NATO member states.
In response to the use of U.S. and British weapons by Ukraine, the Kremlin has signaled that it views these actions as significant escalations. Putin has ordered drills to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, hinted at the potential deployment of conventional missiles near the United States and its allies, and signed a mutual defense pact with North Korea.
Despite these tensions, Washington maintains restrictions on Kyiv, prohibiting the use of long-range U.S.-supplied weapons, such as ATACMS, against Russia. In a potential reciprocal move, Putin suggested that Russia might supply arms to North Korea.
Regarding the recent attack in Crimea, Peskov referred to Putin’s previous statements about deploying conventional weapons near the U.S. and its allies. He stressed that U.S. involvement in actions resulting in Russian casualties would inevitably lead to consequences, the specifics of which will become clear over time.
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