Ukraine fires ATACMS missiles at Crimea, Russia launches intense airstrikes on Odesa.

A U.S. official said last week that Washington had secretly transported long-range missiles to Kyiv as part of a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that U.S. President Joe Biden approved on March 12.

A Russian missile launcher fires. Photo: TASS

Whether or not to send ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300 km, has been a subject of debate within the Biden administration for months. Prior to this, the US had already provided Ukraine with intermediate-range ATACMS missiles last September.

The Russian Defense Ministry said six ATACMS missiles were shot down. Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Crimea, also confirmed that ATACMS missiles were shot down on the peninsula that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated: "Ten Ukrainian drones, six US-made ATACMS tactical missiles, and two French-made 'Hammer' guided air bombs were shot down by air defense forces."

Russian lawmaker Leonid Ivlev, a former Soviet Air Force officer, said Ukraine attacked air bases in Crimea with 12 ATACMS missiles, adding that the attacks could increase ahead of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a new term next week.

Ivlev told RIA news agency: “Their target was the airports. The missiles were destroyed by air defenses.” He said Ukraine was trying to penetrate the air defense shield over Crimea in order to then attack key strategic facilities.

"I believe that with the May holidays approaching, as well as the inauguration of the Russian President, new attempts to attack the peninsula may occur," Ivlev said.

On the other side of the front line, Russia is also stepping up its airstrikes against Ukraine. A Russian missile attack targeted the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa on Monday, causing significant damage to both people and infrastructure.

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, in a post on the military Telegram channel, said the attack was carried out by an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead.

Odesa is a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particularly its port infrastructure.

A U.S. official told Reuters in Washington that the ATACMS missile was first used in the early hours of April 17, targeting a Russian airfield in Crimea, about 165 kilometers from the Ukrainian front line.

The Pentagon initially opposed the deployment of long-range missiles because of concerns that the loss of missiles from U.S. stockpiles would affect the combat readiness of the U.S. military.

There are also concerns that Ukraine will use them to attack targets deep inside Russia, a move that could lead to an escalation of the war toward a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States.

Hoang Anh (according to TASS, RIA, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ukraine-ban-ten-lua-tam-xa-atacms-vao-crimea-nga-khong-kich-du-doi-odesa-post293795.html