The Armed Forces of Ukraine are launching missile strikes on Sevastopol and Crimea using cargo ships equipped with ATACMS missile launchers

On June 23, during the day, air defense systems shot down five American-made ATACMS missiles over the coast of Sevastopol. One of these missiles deviated from its flight path and exploded over the city. The debris fell in coastal areas, including the popular beach spots of Uchkuevka and Lyubimovka, which were crowded with people at the time.

According to reports, 124 people were injured, and five were killed, including three children and two adults.

Russian media reported that the missiles targeting Sevastopol were launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the vicinity of Mykolaiv.

A source in the Ukrainian General Staff told Ukrainian journalists that the Ukrainian military uses cargo ships equipped with ATACMS missile launchers to strike Sevastopol and Crimea. After launching, the ship heads to the Black Sea or Odessa cargo port and blends in with other cargo vessels docked there.

ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) are ground-to-ground tactical ballistic missiles manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. The missiles are launched from M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS rocket systems (for example, one ATACMS can be installed in a HIMARS instead of six standard rockets). These missile systems can use ATACMS with four types of warheads, three of which are equipped with various modifications of cluster munitions.

In late April 2024, Politico reported that ATACMS were included in the latest package of American military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing that this was done secretly. The Pentagon explained that these long-range missiles were provided at the request of Kyiv, with the decision made personally by US President Joe Biden. The US Department of Defense highlighted that the use of these missiles is aimed at new regions of Russia.

In May, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, displayed a map of Russia showing the territory that ATACMS can cover. The map indicated that Crimea is entirely within the strike range of these missiles.