NewsAmid Ukrainian strikes with US missiles Russians go to Crimea for a holiday

Amid Ukrainian strikes with US missiles Russians go to Crimea for a holiday

Anton Heraszczenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, shared on social media that Russians are flocking to Crimea for vacations, undeterred by recent military actions. Despite the Ukrainian army targeting a Russian air defense unit in the region, the allure of Crimea remains strong.

Ukrainians attacked Crimea. Surprising behavior of the Russians.

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JAR

9:47 AM EDT, April 29, 2024

Ukrainian Telegram channels have reported that the attack on the occupied Crimean peninsula started around 5 PM Eastern Time on Saturday. Russian sources allege that the strike was executed using long-range ATACMS missiles, which the United States recently supplied to Ukraine.

A "New York Times" article on Friday, citing a senior Pentagon official, stated that Ukrainian forces could now utilize the long-range ATACMS missiles more effectively against Russian positions in occupied Crimea.

Even amid the bombardments, Russians are keen on vacationing in Crimea: a significant surge in tourist activity has been observed since the morning of April 28, a scenario Anton Heraszczenko highlighted through a video on social media.

Local Telegram channels have indicated long queues at the Taman and Chonhar checkpoints.

Russians traditionally celebrate the Easter holidays, which fall on May 5, in Crimea. Heraszczenko jokingly remarked, "Well, Russians love fireworks and salutes."

It's critical to recall that Russia illegally annexed the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, situated on the Crimean Peninsula, in 2014. This event marked the commencement of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, culminating in further escalation in February 2022.

The US State Department confirmed that the United States has supplied Ukraine with ATACMS missiles capable of reaching up to 186 miles.

Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, mentioned that Ukraine would receive a "significant" quantity of these missiles. Reports in early April suggested that one of Kyiv’s potential targets might be the Crimean Bridge.