Part of the Russo-Ukrainian War
On 23 June 2024, fragments from a US-provided Ukrainian ATACMS missile that was shot down by a Russian anti-air system fell over a beach in Sevastopol, Crimea. According to Russian authorities, the attack killed four or five people and injured around 151 others.
Attack.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, four ATACMS rockets, which were provided to Ukraine by the United States, were intercepted over Sevastopol, while the fragments of the fifth missile fell on the beach, killing four or five civilians, including two or three children, and injuring 151 others.
Eyewitnesses reported that air raid sirens were not active during the attack. Video taken at the beach where the missile fragments fell showed people running from falling debris, while some were being carried away on sunloungers.
Responsibility.
According to ISW, the Russian Ministry of Defence "acknowledged that a Russian air defense interceptor caused the Ukrainian missile to deviate from its flight path and detonate in Sevastopol." "... the civilian casualties in Crimea resulted from Russia's interception of an incoming ATACMS missile rather than a deliberate Ukrainian targeting decision." Reuters reported that, according to an US official, the ATACMS missile was targeting a Russian missile launcher. Per OSINT researchers, the air defence launcher which was presumably targeting the ATACMS was set up on another Sevastopol beach near .
Reactions.
The Russian Ministry of Defence accused the United States of being directly responsible for the attack, stating "All flight missions for the American ATACMS operational-tactical missiles are entered by American specialists based on U.S.’ own satellite reconnaissance data.”
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the "involvement of the United States, the direct involvement, as a result of which Russian civilians are killed, cannot be without consequences."
References.
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