Kremlin Blames US for Deadly Attack on Crimea, Warns of Retaliation

The Kremlin has squarely blamed the United States for a deadly attack on Crimea, which killed at least four people and injured 151, and has formally warned the US ambassador that retaliation will follow. This escalation in rhetoric comes as the war in Ukraine deepens the crisis in relations between Russia and the West.

According to Russian officials, the attack on Sevastopol on Sunday was carried out using US-supplied ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 186 miles (300 km) . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the US was responsible for the deaths of Russian children, saying "You should ask my colleagues in Europe, and above all in Washington, the press secretaries, why their governments are killing Russian children" .

Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy and told her that Washington was "waging a hybrid war against Russia and has actually become a party to the conflict". The ministry warned that "retaliatory measures will definitely follow." Tracy said Washington regretted any loss to civilian life, and that the US provided weapons to Ukraine so it could defend its sovereign territory, including Crimea.

Why it Matters : This escalation in rhetoric is significant because it marks a new level of direct blame from Russia towards the US. The war in Ukraine has already deepened the crisis in relations between Russia and the West, and this latest development could lead to further escalation. The use of US-supplied missiles in the attack on Crimea has raised the stakes, and Russia's warning of retaliation has sparked concerns about the potential for a broader conflict.

The US has denied any direct involvement in the attack, with Pentagon spokesperson Major Charlie Dietz saying that "Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions and conducts its own military operations" . A US official later added that Ukraine was not targeting civilians, and that the Russians were able to intercept an ATACMS missile that was targeting a missile launcher, causing shrapnel to rain down on the beach.

President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned of the risk of a much broader war involving the world's biggest nuclear powers, though he has said Russia does not want a conflict with the US-led NATO alliance. The situation remains volatile, with both sides trading accusations and warnings of retaliation.

Key Takeaways

• The Kremlin has blamed the US for a deadly attack on Crimea, which killed at least four people and injured 151.
• Russia has formally warned the US ambassador that retaliation will follow.
• The attack on Sevastopol was carried out using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
• The US has denied any direct involvement in the attack, saying Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions.
• The situation remains volatile, with both sides trading accusations and warnings of retaliation.