Russia has blamed the United States for a “barbaric” attack in Crimea that relied on US-provided missiles and killed at least four, including children, and wounded 151 others. Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy and accused the US of waging a “proxy war” and said retaliatory measures would “definitely follow”.

Moscow

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

Russia has blamed the United States for a missile strike in Crimea that used US-provided missiles, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals, including children, and injuring 151 others. Following the attack, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, accusing the US of waging a “proxy war” and stating that retaliatory measures would "definitely follow."

According to reports, Ukraine launched five U.S.-supplied attack MS missiles armed with cluster munitions, based on U.S. satellite intelligence and guided by an American Global Hawk UAV patrolling Crimean airspace. The strike hit a beach area crowded with civilians celebrating an Orthodox holiday, which Russian officials labelled “barbaric.”

The United States has responded by asserting that while it provides Ukraine with weapons for self-defense, including the contested region of Crimea, Ukraine itself decides how and when to use them. US officials maintain that the root cause of the conflict stems from Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory and its continued attacks on civilians.

Analysts acknowledge the complexity of determining the extent of direct US involvement in the attack, noting that any weapon system using GPS technically involves US data. Despite Russia's claims, it remains unlikely that US technicians directly programmed the weapons used in the strike.



Russia tells U.S. it will retaliate over Sevastopol missile strike

Scenes from Crimea, where debris from missiles fired from Ukraine rained down on beachgoers, killing several and injuring over 100 more, Russia describing the attack as barbaric. Taking to the microphone at the United Nations, Russia's ambassador repeating the message coming out of Moscow, that the United States is responsible. Ukraine launched five U.S.-supplied attack MS missiles armed with cluster munitions. All flight missions were introduced by the U.S. experts based on the U.S. satellite intelligence. An American Global Hawk UAV was patrolling the airspace over the Crimean peninsula. The beach area packed with peaceful citizens enjoying their weekend and Orthodox holiday was hit. Fire came from the sky on unprotected people who had nowhere to hide. Washington says it provides the weapons, but Ukraine decides how and when to use them. We provide weapons to Ukraine so it can defend its sovereign territory against armed aggression. That includes in Crimea, which of course is part of Ukraine. And Russia could stop this war today and end the suffering caused by the war Russia launched today, if it would stop its occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory and stop launching attacks on civilians. Analysts say how deeply the U.S. is involved in the attack might be hard to determine. With regards to direct involvement of the United States of America, well, let's put it this way. Any weapon system that is using GPS technically, indirectly is using U.S. data. And this eventually will also have to include some Russian manufactured weapons that have been used in this war. With regards to technicians, U.S. technicians programming the weapons, this is highly unlikely. The Russian foreign ministry summoned the U.S. ambassador over what it sees as direct involvement in the conflict. Moscow has vowed the attack cannot be without consequences. Imranullah Khan, Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walked free from a court on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan after pleading guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that allowed him to head straight home to Australia.

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Ukraine Invasion