Russia also claims to have shot down American ATACMS missiles over occupied Crimea

Russia’s Defense Ministry says its air defense forces have shot down four US-made long-range missiles over the Crimean Peninsula, weapons known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) that Washington has sent to Ukraine in recent weeks, reports Reuters.

The ministry did not provide any other details.

Russian officials also claimed on Tuesday that Ukraine attacked Crimea with ATACMS in an attempt to penetrate Russian air defenses on the annexed peninsula, but that six were shot down.

A US official said last month in Washington that the United States had secretly sent long-range missiles into Ukraine in recent weeks.

ATACMS missiles, with a range of up to 300 km, were used for the first time in the early hours of April 17, being launched against a Russian airfield in Crimea, which was approximately 165 km from the Ukrainian front line, the official said.

The Pentagon initially opposed the deployment of the long-range missiles, concerned that removing the missiles from the US stockpile would affect US military readiness.

There were also fears that Ukraine would use them to attack targets inside Russia, a step that could lead to an escalation of the war towards a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States.

On Thursday, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron pledged 3 billion pounds ($3.7 billion) in annual military aid to Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” adding that London had no objection to its weapons be used inside Russia, which drew a strong response from Moscow.

Publisher: GM

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