The Pentagon said on Monday that Ukraine makes its own decisions regarding the targets it attacks, after the Kremlin held the United States responsible for an attack targeting the Crimean Peninsula with American-made ATACMS missiles, which resulted in the death of 4 people. At least two of them were children, and 151 others were injured.
Pentagon spokesman Charlie Dietz said: “Ukraine makes its own targeting decisions and carries out its own military operations.”
Earlier Monday, she threatened RussiaThe United States issued “consequences” and summoned Washington’s ambassador the day after the Ukrainian attack with American weapons on the Crimean Peninsula.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that air defense systems shot down 4 ATACMS missiles equipped with cluster warheads, while the ammunition for the fifth missile exploded in the air.
The ministry said that American specialists determined the coordinates of the missile flight based on information received from American spy satellites, which means that Washington bears direct responsibility for the attack.
The ministry added: “Washington bears primarily responsibility for the deliberate missile attack on civilians in the city of Sevastopol after it provided Ukraine With these weapons, the Kiev regime also bears responsibility after carrying out this strike from its territory.”
The Kremlin accuses Washington of “killing Russian children”
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the strike on the city of Sevastopol in Crimea as “barbaric,” accusing Washington of “killing Russian children.”
The Kremlin said that Russian Pres Vladimir Putin “In constant contact with the army” since the attack on Sevastopol.
During a meeting with international news agencies earlier this month, Putin criticized the West’s delivery of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
Putin said: “If someone believes that similar weapons can be presented in the battle zone to strike our lands (…) why do we not have the right to send our weapons of the same type to regions in the world where strikes are directed at sensitive facilities belonging to countries that are moving against Russia?” ?
He noted that the response “could be disproportionate,” pointing out that Russia “will think about the matter.”
On Monday, Peskov referred to other statements by Putin stating that Western countries are providing Ukraine with target data to carry out its strikes.
He continued: “Ask my colleagues in Europe, as well as especially in Washington. Ask media officials why their governments kill Russian children.”
Moscow summons Washington’s ambassador
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the US Ambassador to Moscow, Lynn Tracy, on Monday, to inform her that the country holds both Kiev and Washington responsible for the missile attack that caused casualties on the city of Sevastopol in the Crimean Peninsula.
The ministry said in a statement, “These actions committed by Washington will not go unanswered. There will certainly be measures to respond to them.”
Russian-appointed authorities in Crimea said fragments of a missile fell just after noon near a beach on the northern side of Sevastopol, where local residents were vacationing.
Footage broadcast on Russian state television showed people running, while some were being transported on beds designated for beaches.
Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated that at least 124 people were infected. The authorities said that among the injured were 27 children, 5 of whom were in serious condition.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
“Crimea is Ukraine”
For his part, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said on Monday that “Crimea is Ukraine,” adding that “Russia must leave the peninsula. There should be no presence of its army and military equipment there.”
In turn, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podoliak indicated that Crimea is a legitimate military target.
He said, “Crimea is also a large military camp and warehouse with hundreds of direct military targets that the Russians are maliciously trying to hide and cover with their civilians.”
ظهرت في الأصل على asharq.com