Russian officials announced that Ukraine launched an attack using ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles with cluster warheads on the city of Sevastopol in the Crimean peninsula on June 23.
A total of five missiles were launched, four of which were intercepted by air defense systems while the remaining one exploded in the air, sending debris down and causing civilian casualties, according to Sputnik news agency.
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Russian Health Ministry assistant Alexei Kuznetsov said 124 people, including 27 children, were injured in various degrees in the attack. Five children were in critical condition.
City leader Mikhail Razvozhayev said five people were killed, including three children, in the attack.
Mayor Yury Grishan of the city of Magadan (in Russia's Far East) said one victim was the 9-year-old daughter of his deputy. She was swimming in the sea with her family at the time.
ATACMS missile test launch
The Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on terrorism charges following the incident. President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences to the people of Sevastopol. The city and the Crimean peninsula will observe a day of mourning for the victims on June 24.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that all ATACMS missile flight missions were entered by US specialists, based on satellite reconnaissance data. “Therefore, the primary responsibility for this deliberate attack on the civilian population of Sevastopol lies with Washington,” the Russian Defense Ministry stated.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused Ukraine of carefully planning the use of weapons against crowded places to maximize destruction.
“We will do everything to ensure that the international community is informed about Kyiv’s latest crimes,” Zakharova said.
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The ATACMS missile, with a range of up to 300 km, was supplied to Ukraine by the US after a long period of consideration. Washington recently allowed Kyiv to use the weapons it provided to attack Russian territory, targeting targets that were conducting attacks on Ukraine. However, the US is said to have not yet allowed Ukraine to use the ATACMS to attack Russian territory.
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after a referendum in 2014, but Ukraine did not recognize it. In 2022, Russia annexed four other regions in Ukraine, although it did not fully control them.
Also on June 23, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of the Belgorod region (Russia) said that an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) occurred in the village of Graivoron of the province and in the center of the capital city of Belgorod, killing one person and injuring three others.
Russian officials also said Ukraine launched dozens of drones at Bryansk and other regions during the day. At least 30 drones were destroyed in Bryansk, which borders Ukraine. There were no reports of damage from the attacks.
A Russian warship fires a missile towards Ukraine during a special military operation.
Russia attacks Ukrainian training base
On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry said its military attacked a training site for pilots and technical personnel of the Ukrainian Air Force with long-range precision weapons launched from the sea. Russia did not specify the location of the attack.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv (Ukraine), one person was killed and 10 others were injured after a Russian attack, according to Reuters.
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Air raid sirens were reportedly heard in 15 regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said air defenses had intercepted two-thirds of the missiles fired by Russia towards Kyiv. Falling debris injured two people. A number of homes and other facilities were damaged.
Russia often attacks military sites, energy facilities, defense, and communications systems in Ukraine, but emphasizes that it does not target civilian homes or social facilities.
After the attack in Kharkiv on June 23
Russia suggests amending nuclear doctrine
Russia may revise its nuclear doctrine if threats to the country continue to grow, Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense committee, said on June 23. However, any changes regarding the use of nuclear weapons would depend on the international political and military situation, RT quoted Katapolov as saying to Russian media.
“The doctrine reflects our reaction to what is happening around the country. If we see that the challenges and threats are growing, we can adjust some things, including the timing of the use of nuclear weapons, the decision to use them,” the chairman of the Russian parliament’s defense committee said, noting that it was too early to talk about potential specific changes.
According to current Russian doctrine, nuclear weapons can only be used if Russia is attacked with weapons of mass destruction, or if the country's survival is threatened with conventional weapons.
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West sends Serbian weapons to Ukraine
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in an interview with the Financial Times that Belgrade had sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of ammunition to Western countries, and that this ammunition could have helped Ukraine.
According to the Financial Times , the ammunition exported by Serbia was sent to Ukraine via third countries, estimated to be worth 800 million euros. President Vucic admitted that the figure was close to accurate. “This is part of the economic recovery and it is important for us. It is true that we exported ammunition. We cannot export to Ukraine or Russia, but we have many contracts with the Americans, the Spanish, the Czechs and others. What they do with the ammunition is their business,” said Mr. Vucic.
Serbia has close ties with Russia and has tried to maintain a neutral stance since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022. However, Serbia is the only country in Eastern Europe, except Belarus, that has not imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict, according to RT. However, Serbia has also condemned Moscow's military campaign at the United Nations.
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