In a significant escalation of accusations, Russian officials blamed the United States for providing the missiles used in a deadly Ukrainian strike on Sevastopol in Crimea, resulting in six fatalities and over 100 injuries.
On Sunday, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks targeted several areas, with the port city of Sevastopol experiencing severe casualties. Among the dead were five individuals, including two children, struck by debris from intercepted missiles. The sixth casualty occurred in Grayvoron city, situated in Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, Sevastopol’s Moscow-appointed governor, reported extensive damage, including a forest fire and a residential building set alight by falling rocket fragments. He announced a day of mourning on Monday, canceling all public events in response to the tragedy.
Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti cited Health Ministry sources confirming 124 injuries in Sevastopol. The Russian Defense Ministry quickly pointed fingers at both Ukraine and the U.S., asserting that American-supplied ATACMS missiles were employed in the attack.
“The responsibility for this deliberate missile strike on civilians lies with both Ukraine and the United States,” the Ministry declared.
In a separate incident, Russia claimed to have intercepted 33 Ukrainian drones across multiple western regions, including Bryansk, Smolensk, Lipetsk, and Tula. The Ministry of Defense confirmed there were no casualties or damage from these drones.
The city of Kharkiv also suffered under continued Russian bombardment, with local officials reporting one death and 11 injuries on Sunday. Mayor Ihor Terekhov noted that a guided bomb left half the city without electricity. This followed a Saturday strike on a residential building, which killed three people and left 41 others injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to these attacks by urging international partners to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. In a video address, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for modern systems like Patriots and expedited pilot training for F-16s to defend against ongoing aerial threats.
Additionally, Ukraine’s air force reported that two people were injured by debris from downed Russian missiles over the Kyiv region. In the Donetsk region, Governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed that Russian attacks had killed two people and wounded four on Saturday.
In another development, the Ukrainian Navy released images purporting to show the destruction of a warehouse in Russia’s Krasnodar region used for launching and storing Iranian-designed Shahed drones. According to the Navy, the attack on Friday night killed training instructors and cadets. While Russian officials have not commented on this specific claim, they acknowledged shooting down several drones overnight in the region.
As tensions continue to escalate, the international community watches closely, fearing further conflict and the potential for broader geopolitical ramifications.