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The Russian foreign ministry has accused the United States of involvement in a recent missile attack on Russia-annexed Crimea.

On Monday, the ministry claimed Ukraine used US-supplied ATACMS missiles in a strike that resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including the deaths of four people and injuries to over 150 others. The ministry stated that Washington “has effectively become a party” to the war, and warned of “retaliatory measures.”

The missile strike, which occurred on Sunday, involved five ATACMS missiles armed with cluster munitions, four of which were intercepted mid-air while the fifth detonated over Sevastopol. In response to the attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy to present a formal complaint, labeling the incident as “a new bloody crime by the Kyiv regime patronized and armed by Washington.” According to Russian media, Ambassador Tracy was told that the US is “encouraging the pro-Nazi Ukrainian authorities to continue hostilities until the ‘last Ukrainian.”

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The US Embassy in Moscow and the Pentagon have yet to comment on Russia’s allegations, though the Pentagon has previously maintained that Ukraine picks its targets, not the US. Despite this, President Putin has claimed that any use of US-supplied heavy weaponry requires US assistance in targeting, a claim the Pentagon denies.

Russian Foreign Ministry officials accused the US of “waging a hybrid war against Russia,” claiming that American support, including the provision of ATACMS missiles, effectively encourages Ukraine to “continue hostilities.” The Kremlin emphasized that such actions will not go unpunished, with Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov alluding to potential retaliatory measures, including the deployment of long-range weapons.

Western-supplied weaponry has played a significant role in the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, now entering its fourth year. While the US has imposed restrictions on the use of these weapons within Russian territory, recent policy shifts have allowed for deeper strikes. This has raised concerns among some Western officials about the potential for an expanded conflict. However, Ukraine and its supporters maintain that attacking Russian military positions is a necessary defense strategy.

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