A "barbaric attack" attributed to the USA. This is how Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson described the weekend bombardment in Sevastopol, a city under Russian control on the Crimean Peninsula.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, claims the attack, which killed five and injured 151, is America's fault. He has promised retribution against the Western adversary. These casualty figures were reported by local authorities.
The missiles used in the attack were American-made, and the victims were reportedly struck by debris as the Russian forces shot them down. This, according to Russian officials, constitutes a hybrid war by the USA against Russia, pulling America directly into the conflict.
US Ambassador Summoned
According to Reuters, the Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the US ambassador for talks, where Peskov issued a formal warning.
"Of course, the US involvement in an act of war resulting in the deaths of Russian civilians will have consequences. Exactly what those consequences will be remains to be seen," Peskov stated.
The war in Ukraine has strained Russia-West relations to a breaking point, but these recent statements from the Kremlin mark a significant escalation.
Accusations Fly
"You should ask my colleagues in Europe, and especially the press secretaries in Washington, why their governments are killing Russian children," Peskov asserted.
Russian officials report that at least two children were among those killed in the Sunday attack on Sevastopol. They also described scenes of people fleeing from a city beach, with some of the injured being carried away on sun loungers.
Kyiv has not commented on the attack, according to Reuters, but Ukraine generally denies targeting civilians.
Territorial Disputes
Russia controls Crimea and considers the peninsula Russian territory, while Ukraine and several other countries view it as Ukrainian.
Previously, Western weapon donations came with a stipulation that they should not be used to attack Russian territory. This clause has now been lifted.
