Ukraine Bombs Russian Military Facilities in Crimea with US-Supplied Missiles

Crimea archive photo. (The photo is unrelated to the article content) [Image source=Yonhap News]

Ukraine bombed Russian military facilities with missiles supported by the United States.

According to foreign media on the 25th, Ukraine struck Russian military facilities in the Crimean Peninsula on the night of the 23rd (local time) using long-range missiles provided by the United States.

According to a Ukrainian defense official, the attack targeted the Russian air defense unit communication center in the coastal city of Alushta in the Crimean Peninsula. Local social media channels in Crimea reported several explosions in the city, and a video captured a large-scale explosion. However, the extent of the damage has not been confirmed.

While Ukraine is struggling to hold back Russian forces on the northern and eastern fronts, it is known to be threatening Russia by focusing on high-value targets such as air defense systems, fighter jets, and warships in Crimea using the US-supported long-range missile ATACMS.

This kind of long-range missile attack is a key part of Ukraine's strategy this year to buy time to reorganize its military amid a war that has lasted more than two years.

Until now, the US and the West have supported Ukraine with weapons but imposed the condition that they should not be used to attack targets within Russian territory. This was due to concerns that the Ukraine war could escalate into a direct conflict between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Accordingly, Ukraine has targeted Crimea, a crucial transit point for Russia's war efforts, as a major target. Crimea is a region forcibly annexed by Russia and has served as a Russian military supply base and safe rear area since the start of the war.

After annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia also annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions following the 2022 Ukraine "special military operation," considering these areas as its own territory. However, Ukraine and the West do not recognize this.