Ukrainian forces have reportedly struck Russian air-defense systems in the occupied Crimean peninsula. Reports from X, formerly known as Twitter, indicate that Ukraine struck Russian air defenses with tactical ballistic missiles in Cape Tarkhankut, the western tip of Crimea. Russian sources claim that the attack took place overnight with ATACMS missiles with a cluster warhead being used. This attack is seen as an attempt by Ukraine to disrupt Russian air defense systems ahead of upcoming events such as Victory Day and the inauguration of the Supreme Commander.
Newsweek has been unable to independently verify these claims and has reached out to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Ukraine for clarification. In August 2023, Ukraine destroyed a Russian S-400 air defense system at Cape Tarkhankut, which was seen as a significant blow to the occupiers’ air-defense system. Earlier in April 2024, Ukraine also struck a large Russian airfield in Dzhankoi, Crimea, using U.S. provided Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) missiles. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the precision of the strike on the airfield, which marked the first time U.S. provided ATACMS missiles were used by Ukrainian forces.
The U.S. provided long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine earlier this year at the request of President Joe Biden. The delivery of these missiles was initially kept private in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that a “significant number” of these missiles had been provided to Ukraine, which can strike targets up to 185 miles away. The Pentagon initially had concerns about supplying these long-range missiles to Ukraine, fearing that they could potentially be used to strike deep within Russian territory and escalate the conflict.
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has seen Ukrainian forces making strategic strikes against Russian positions in occupied Crimea. These attacks on Russian air-defense systems are seen as part of Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt and weaken Russian military capabilities in the region. The use of U.S. provided ATACMS missiles in these attacks marks a significant escalation in the conflict and demonstrates the level of support that Ukraine is receiving from the international community. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond to these attacks and what implications they may have on the overall conflict in the region.
