Could Ukraine attack Crimea with US long-range missiles?

(Dan Tri) – Pentagon officials said long-range missiles provided by the US will allow Ukrainian forces to target the Crimean peninsula `more effectively`, according to the New York Times.

Crimea Bridge connects the Crimean peninsula with mainland Russia (Photo: Reuters).

The New York Times on April 25 quoted an unnamed US defense official as saying that the `goal` of providing long-range weapons to Ukraine is to put more pressure on Crimea, `where currently, Russia has

The Pentagon official said that long-range missiles provided by the US would allow Ukrainian forces to target the Crimean peninsula `more effectively`.

The US transferred the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), said to have a range of up to 300km, to Ukraine as part of a $300 million weapons package approved by President Joe Biden in mid-March

On the morning of April 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kiev forces attacked an air base in Dzhankoy, Crimea, after media reported that Kiev used ATACMS missiles for the first time in an attack on the field.

Ukraine first received medium-range ATACMS missiles last September.

In October last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the move to provide missiles to Ukraine as `another American mistake`.

Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said that transferring long-range missiles to Kiev was an `unjustifiable` action.

The Crimean peninsula, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is headquartered, has recently been repeatedly targeted by attacks by missiles, drones and unmanned boats.

According to analysts, recent activities around Crimea are not random moves but are part of Ukraine’s larger counterattack effort.

Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency of Ukraine (GUR) Vadym Skibitsky stated that Crimea is the key to helping Russia expand its influence in the region.

Observers say that with this strategic significance, Crimea can be considered a deciding factor in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev stated that Moscow would consider `using all means, including nuclear` in the event of an attack on Crimea.