The Kremlin has summoned the US ambassador, warning of “severe consequences” after a US missile strike in Crimea killed four Ukrainians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the US Ambassador Lynne Tracy. Later, the ministry issued a statement saying that Washington shares responsibility with the Kiev regime for the atrocities and that the attack will not go “unpunished”.
Moscow has criticized Washington and Kiev’s Western backers for supplying weapons aimed at Russian targets, saying they are directly involved in the two-year conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Sunday’s attack in Sevastopol “barbaric” and accused Washington of “killing Russian children.”
Peskov alluded to President Vladimir Putin’s comments earlier this month about arming the West for possible attacks on Western targets.
“The participation of the United States, the direct involvement of the Russian citizens killed, cannot be without consequences,” he said, “time will tell what will happen.”
Russia said Sunday’s attack was a US-supplied Atasimus missile loaded with cluster warheads.
Local officials, set up by Moscow, said the missile hit an area of the port city with a sandy beach and hotels.
82 people, including 27 children, were injured in the attack and were admitted to hospital. Tas news agency quoted Health Minister Mikhail Murashko as saying that 14 of the injured are in critical condition.