In a significant escalation of hostilities, Ukraine has reportedly employed US-made long-range missiles to strike and destroy a key vessel of the Russian navy off the coast of occupied Crimea, according to Ukrainian and independent news sources. The use of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles by Ukrainian forces against the Russian warship Cyclone, as claimed, may reflect a pivotal shift in the United States’ strategic stance towards the conflict in Ukraine.
Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s navy, stated, “There is a high probability Ukraine destroyed the warship near Russian-occupied Crimea.” The targeted vessel, the Cyclone corvette, valued at approximately $34.3m, was reportedly hit using three ATACMS missiles, a system supplied by the US but previously restricted for use within Ukraine’s recognized borders. The incident follows an attack on a Russian naval minesweeper in Sevastopol, signaling a bad day for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, as confirmed by Ukraine’s defense ministry.
Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, noted the significance of this development. “It may represent a change in pattern… These attacks could indicate a relaxation of US rules and a recognition of a new strategic reality in Ukraine,” he said. The strike comes after Ukraine’s parliamentarians visited Washington, lobbying for a lift on conditions tied to long-range missiles, a plea underscored by the build-up of Russian troops near Kharkiv and the ensuing offensive that allowed Russia to capture over a dozen villages in the region.
Ukraine’s capacity to push back against the Russian navy has been part of an ongoing effort to curtail the Black Sea Fleet’s ability to launch missiles. The Cyclone, delivered to Moscow’s fleet in 2023, was equipped with Kalibr missiles, which have recently been used against Ukrainian infrastructure. The destruction of such a vessel is considered a strategic victory not only in military terms but also in ensuring the safety of grain export routes, vital to Ukraine’s economy.
Despite the US Congress passing a significant aid package to Ukraine, including an array of weaponry, the deployment of the ATACMS and the targets they engaged have not been officially confirmed by either Kyiv or Washington. The Russian Ministry of Defense has also remained silent regarding these reports.
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine’s destruction of warship may signal US shift in face of new reality , inews, 05/21/2024
– Ukraine Navy: Missile Strikes Sinking One Russian Warship Confirmed, Second Probable, Kyiv Post, 05/20/2024
– Ukraine war latest: Ukraine ‘destroys Russian Black Sea minesweeper’, Sky News, 05/18/2024
– Ukraine bombs the port where Russia’s Black Sea fleet moved to after Crimea got too risky for its warships, reports say, Yahoo News Canada, 05/19/2024
– France eyes handing over ‘expired’ long-range SCALP missiles to Ukraine, Yahoo News Canada, 05/18/2024
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