Ukraine escalates tactics in Crimea with American missile strikes
Ukraine has been intensively attacking Crimea in recent weeks, and the Russians themselves admit it. Experts point out that Ukraine is adopting a new tactic. Using American long-range ATACMS missiles, they are destroying Russian air defences to create safe air corridors for F-16 aircraft.
The Russians admit that Ukrainian attacks on Crimea have intensified. According to Ukrainian data, about fifteen S-300 and S-400 air defence systems were damaged in Crimea from mid-April to mid-June.
Experts point out that Ukraine is adopting a new tactic. Using American long-range ATACMS missiles, they are destroying Russian air defences. This campaign aims to create safe air corridors for F-16 aircraft, estimates Philip O'Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Edinburgh.
"Additionally, blocking the narrow logistical routes connecting Crimea with Russia will cut off the peninsula's occupying soldiers from logistics," writes the French "Le Monde" in its analysis of the frontline situation.
"Long-range weapons intended for use on Ukrainian territory"
As Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder recently said, the U.S. position on the use of long-range weapons in attacks on the Russian Federation has not changed. "Our policy is that the long-range weapons we provide to Ukraine are intended for use on sovereign Ukrainian territory," he stated.
In response to a clarifying question about whether this applies to occupied Crimea, Ryder reminded that the peninsula is part of Ukraine.
