Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the US, has strongly criticized the United States for its role in a recent missile attack in Crimea. He accused Washington of supporting what he described as “crimes of the Kyiv regime.” Antonov’s comments came during a press briefing on Monday when he was asked about the US’s silence on the issue.
The missile attack occurred in Sevastopol, a city in Crimea that is currently under Russian control. As per the reports, at least 5 people were killed and over 100 were injured when missile fragments scattered over a crowded beach.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the attack was carried out by Ukraine using US-supplied ATACMS missiles equipped with cluster warheads.
Antonov alleged that the Ukrainian forces deliberately targeted civilians during a time when many people were gathered on the shore. He emphasized that women and children were among the victims and condemned the attack for occurring on a Christian holiday, which is significant to many people.
The Russian envoy accused the US of supporting international terrorism by providing weapons to Ukraine. He argued that the supply of American weapons to Ukraine shows the US’s intention to continue the conflict regardless of human casualties. Antonov claimed that the use of cluster munitions in the ATACMS missiles indicates that American specialists and intelligence support were involved in the attack.
Antonov described the US’s foreign policy as “pseudo-humane” and suggested that it had failed in the context of the Ukrainian crisis. He expressed that it has become increasingly difficult for US policymakers to justify their involvement in the conflict. He also extended his condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed or injured in the attack, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
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Crimea has been under Russian control since 2014 when Russian forces annexed the peninsula. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Crimea has been a target of sporadic attacks by Ukrainian forces. Kyiv has stated that its attacks on Crimea are part of a strategy to isolate the peninsula and disrupt Russian military operations on the Ukrainian mainland.
The missile attack in Sevastopol has intensified the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with significant international implications. The criticism from the Russian ambassador highlights the complex and contentious nature of foreign involvement in the conflict.
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