Russia Warns US After Attack in Crimea: Retaliation Imminent 

On Monday, the Kremlin warned Washington of “consequences” because of its actions and summoned its Ambassador after a Ukrainian strike on Crimea, reportedly using a U.S. missile, killed four people. Moscow has increasingly criticized Washington and Kyiv’s Western allies for providing weapons used against Russian targets, labeling them as direct participants in the ongoing two-year conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the strike on Sevastopol as “barbaric” and accused Washington of “killing Russian children.” Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev confirmed that two of the victims were minors. 

Peskov stated, “Time will reveal the consequences. Ask my colleagues in Europe and Washington why their government is killing Russian children,” he added.

Russia’s threat of retaliation

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. envoy Lynne Tracy and issued a statement asserting that Washington shares responsibility with Kyiv for this attack and that it would “not go unpunished.” Russia claimed the strike used a U.S.-supplied ATACMS missile with a cluster warhead, targeting an area in Sevastopol known for its sandy beaches and hotels. Moscow reported that 82 people, including 27 children, were hospitalized, with 14 in serious condition, according to Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.

Earlier this month, in a meeting with international news agencies, including AFP, Putin criticized the West’s supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine. He suggested that Moscow might similarly supply weapons to other regions, implying an asymmetric response. Peskov also reiterated Putin’s assertion that Western countries provide target data for Ukrainian strikes.

On the Ukrainian side, Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s office, stated, “Crimea is Ukraine. Russia must leave the peninsula, and their military presence there must end.” Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior aide to the Ukrainian president, indicated that Crimea is a legitimate military target due to its extensive military infrastructure, which Moscow forces use while hiding behind civilians.

Since its campaign began in February 2022, Russia has launched deadly strikes against Ukraine daily. Ukraine reports that 551 children have been killed and 1,396 injured since the start of the conflict.

A longstanding dispute 

The war in Ukraine began in 2014 following widespread protests in Kyiv, known as the Euromaidan movement, which led to the ousting of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. In response, Russia annexed Crimea, a move widely condemned by the international community. The annexation was followed by pro-Russian separatist uprisings in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively known as the Donbas.

Moscow supported these separatists militarily, leading to a full-scale conflict between Ukrainian forces and separatist fighters. The war in the Donbas resulted in significant casualties and displacement. Various ceasefires and peace agreements, including the Minsk Accords, were attempted but frequently violated, leading to a prolonged stalemate.

In February 2022, the conflict escalated dramatically when Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. This invasion marked a significant intensification of hostilities and involved widespread attacks across Ukraine, including its capital, Kyiv. The invasion was met with strong resistance from Ukrainian forces and widespread international condemnation, leading to severe economic sanctions against Russia.

The conflict has had devastating humanitarian consequences, with thousands of civilian casualties and millions of Ukrainians displaced. The war has also strained global geopolitics, heightening tensions between Moscow and Western countries, which have provided military and economic support to Ukraine.

The U.S. has been heavily involved in the Ukraine war primarily through military and economic support to Ukraine. This includes supplying advanced weaponry, intelligence sharing, and training Ukrainian forces. 

The U.S. has also imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia to weaken its war efforts and has provided significant humanitarian aid to support displaced Ukrainians. Politically, the U.S. has rallied international support for Ukraine, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank to deter further Russian aggression.