The tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated yesterday as the Russian defence ministry claimed that Ukraine used US-provided weapons in a deadly strike on Crimea. The attack, which killed at least four people and injured 151 more, involved five US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
According to the Russian ministry, four of the missiles were intercepted, but the fifth exploded in mid-air, causing casualties in a village in Sevastopol. Shockingly, at least two children were among the victims of the attack.
Pictures and videos circulating online showed chaos and panic as people ran from a beach near Sevastopol, with some of the injured being carried off on sun loungers. However, Sky News has not verified the authenticity of these images.
The Russian defence ministry pointed fingers at the US, claiming that American specialists based on their own satellite intelligence data were responsible for the missile attack on civilians in Sevastopol. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also directly blamed Washington, accusing the US government of killing Russian children.
In response to the attack, Russia summoned US ambassador Lynne Tracy to the foreign ministry, accusing Washington of “waging a hybrid war against Russia” and becoming a party to the conflict. President Vladimir Putin has warned of the risk of a broader war involving nuclear powers but has stated that Russia does not seek conflict with NATO.
As of now, neither Ukraine nor the US has commented on the Sevastopol attack, leaving many questions unanswered about the escalating tensions between the countries. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.