On June 23, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the coastal city of Sevastopol — the largest city in Crimea, and a major Black Sea port — with five U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, equipped with cluster warheads, according to the Russian Embassy. Russian officials say that American military specialists provide the flight paths for all ATACMS missiles, including those used in yesterday’s delliberate attack on Sevastopol, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Four missiles were shot down by air defense systems, while the ammunition of the fifth detonated in mid-air, raining missile fragments down upon civilians on the beach. “All flight missions for the American ATACMS operational-tactical missiles are entered by American specialists based on U.S.’ own satellite reconnaissance data,” the ministry said. “Therefore, responsibility for the deliberate missile attack on civilians in Sevastopol lies primarily with Washington, which supplied these weapons to Ukraine, as well as the Kyiv regime, from whose territory this attack was launched.” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the incident “a barbaric unscrupulous terrorist attack.” The U.S. began shipping ATACMS missiles to Ukraine this spring, as part of a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that was approved by President Joe Biden on March 12. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. President Vladimir Putin has increased Russia’s naval presence in the Black Sea, which is of great importance to his efforts to expand Moscow’s influence. Yesterday’s attack risks inflaming tensions with Moscow during a time when fears of a third world war continue to grow. Russia says it summoned U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy to the ministry to express outrage over the incident and assure Washington that there will be retaliation. “The envoy was told that such actions by Washington, aiming to encourage Ukraine’s pro-Nazi authorities to continue combat 'to the last Ukrainian,' having issued a permission to deliver strikes deep inside Russian territory, will not go unanswered. Response measures will definitely follow," the ministry told her, according to Russia state news agency TASS. Moscow says it is “beyond any doubt” the U.S. was involved in the attack, adding, “One of the most important Orthodox holidays — the day of the Holy Trinity — was intentionally chosen for the terrorist attack.” Russian officials declared a day of mourning and expressed condolences to the relative of the victims. Russian officials are vowing retaliation, blaming Washington for a deadly strike on a Crimean peninsula that resulted in the death of four people, including two children, and 151 injured.
