Ukraine started striking Crimea with US-supplied ATACMS | Latest Ukraine-Russia War News

Russian officials have claimed that Ukraine attacked Crimea peninsula with US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems, ATACMS, overnight on Monday in an attempt to knock out Kremlin’s defence capabilities. Kremlin claimed that six ATACMS were shot down over the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-backed head of Crimea, said ATACMS missiles were shot down over the peninsula. The Russian Defence Ministry also reported the downing of six ATACMS, without specifying the location where they were shot down. "Ten Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, six ATACMS tactical missiles manufactured by the United States and two guided 'Hammer' aircraft bombs manufactured by France were shot down by air defences," the ministry said. "Last night, Russian authorities activated air defenses over Dzhankoy and Simferopol as Ukrainian militants conducted a missile strike at the Republic of Crimea," Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the We Are Together with Russia movement, wrote on Telegram. He claimed that Ukrainian troops used several ATACMS ballistic missiles in an attempt to attack civilians on the peninsula. Meanwhile, Russian MP Leonid Ivlev said Ukraine struck at airbases in Crimea with 12 ATACMS, and added that attacks could increase ahead of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a new term that is due to place next week. "Their target is airfields. The missiles were destroyed by air defences," Ivlev told RIA news agency. He said Ukraine was seeking to penetrate air defence shield over Crimea and strike at strategically important facilities. Pro-Russian Rybar Telegram channel claimed 30 missiles had been fired at Crimea in recent days. Pentagon revealed last week that President Joe Biden secretly approved the transfer of the long-range ATACMS missiles in February for use inside Ukrainian territory.