The Kremlin accuses the U.S. of ‘killing Russian children’ after a Ukrainian attack on Crimea with ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, escalating tensions between the two nations.
Russia, Bollywood Fever: The Kremlin has accused the U.S. of ‘killing Russian children’ following a Ukrainian attack on occupied Crimea using long-range ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington.
Moscow summoned the U.S. ambassador to issue a formal warning, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemning the strike as ‘barbaric.’
“You should ask my colleagues in Europe, and above all in Washington, the press secretaries, why their governments are killing Russian children. Just ask them this question,” Peskov told reporters.
The attack in Sevastopol resulted in at least four deaths, including two children, and left 150 people injured, according to Russia. Video footage shows panicked beachgoers fleeing from falling shrapnel after Russian air defenses intercepted the missiles.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine has launched multiple drone attacks on Russian naval assets and the Black Sea port. The ATACMs, highly sought by Kiev, offer a longer range than missiles previously supplied by the U.S.
The U.S. began supplying ATACMS to Ukraine earlier this year following intense lobbying from Kiev. Recently, the U.S. modified its policy to permit the use of these weapons inside Russian territory along border regions with Ukraine, amid persistent Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
Ukrainian commanders have advocated for the authority to use the weapons to target Russian troop concentrations and storage sites for aircraft and ammunition used in assaults on Ukrainian territory. The long-range ATACMs, included in a March military aid package, have a range of 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) but are still restricted from use deep inside Russian territory.
The ongoing war in Ukraine and the defense provided by the U.S. and NATO allies have severely strained relations between the U.S. and Russia, both nuclear powers.
Following the Sevastopol strike, Russia accused the U.S. of ‘waging a hybrid war against Russia and has actually become a party to the conflict.’ Russia threatened U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, stating that the attack would ‘not go unpunished’ and promised ‘retaliatory measures will definitely follow.’
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