According to a report by Newsweek on Monday, May 13, 2024, a Ukrainian missile strike targeted a Russian air defense base near Mount Ai-Petri in Crimea. The early morning attack resulted in the death of Alexander Kulakov, the commander of the military unit stationed there, and another Russian soldier, with several others sustaining injuries.
The strike was confirmed by Ukrainian military blogger Igor Sushko, who stated that multiple Ukrainian missiles struck a strategic Russian air defense radar base on Ai-Petri mountain around 6 a.m. This incident further intensifies the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Both the Russian and Ukrainian Ministries of Foreign Affairs have yet to respond to Newsweek’s requests for comments on the incident. The attack coincides with heightened hostilities, including recent Russian airstrikes on the Belgorod region following a new offensive in northeastern Ukraine.
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In the past two and a half months, Russia has mistakenly dropped at least 33 aerial bombs on its own territory and regions controlled by Moscow in Ukraine, according to Astra.
Since the onset of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine in 2022, the United States has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. Last month, President Joe Biden signed a foreign aid bill passed by Congress, allocating $60.8 billion to assist Kyiv in combating Russian aggression.
“We rose to the moment, we came together, and we got it done. Now we need to move fast, and we are,” Biden stated at the White House after signing the bill, reaffirming America’s commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian hostility.
Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov condemned Biden’s decision, accusing the U.S. of waging “an all-out hybrid war against” Russia. Antonov asserted that the West’s support for Ukraine is exacerbating tensions and supporting the “inevitable collapse of the Zelensky regime.”
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates, the international community remains concerned about the potential for further violence and instability in the region.
