Announcements from the U.S. Department of Defense or State Department

Ukraine Missile Strike on Sevastopol Beach Kills 5, Including Children, Injures 124

Jun 23, 2024, 02:46 PM

On June 23, 2024, Ukraine launched a missile attack on the Russian-annexed city of Sevastopol in Crimea using five U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles equipped with cluster warheads. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that four of the missiles were intercepted by air defense units, but one missile deviated and exploded above the city. The attack targeted a beach and resulted in the deaths of five people, including three children, and injured 124 others, with 27 children among the wounded and five in critical condition. The Sevastopol governor confirmed the casualties. Russia has blamed the United States for the attack, stating that the U.S. is responsible for programming the flight trajectories of the missiles. The incident has heightened tensions, with Russia labeling the strike as a deliberate terrorist attack.