Crimea Bridge connects the Crimean peninsula with mainland Russia (Photo: Reuters).
New York Times On April 25, an unnamed US defense official 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 Russia currently has a hideout.” relatively safe”.
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 .White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan this week confirmed the missile transfer to Kiev.
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. flew about 165km from the front line. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on this statement.
Ukraine first received medium-range ATACMS missiles last September. However, Russian troops quickly shot them down, preventing Kiev’s plan to damage or destroy the Crimean bridge. Earlier this month, President Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine “really wants to destroy Russian infrastructure,” including the Crimea bridge.
In October last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the move to provide missiles to Ukraine as “another American mistake”. He declared that these US missiles cannot change the situation on the battlefield, but only prolong Ukraine’s pain.
Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said that transferring long-range missiles to Kiev was an “unjustifiable” action. He added that Washington’s move “increases the threat to the security of Crimea, including Sevastopol, new Russian regions and other Russian cities”.
The Crimean peninsula, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is headquartered, has recently been repeatedly targeted by attacks by missiles, drones and unmanned boats. Russia accused Ukraine of being behind these attacks.
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. On the other hand, he emphasized that Ukraine’s regaining of the peninsula is non-negotiable.
Observers say that with this strategic significance, Crimea can be considered a determining factor in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although Russia announced its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraine has repeatedly affirmed that it will regain this territory.
However, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev stated that Moscow would consider “using all measures, including nuclear” in case Crimea is attacked.
