Ukraine decides on targets amid U.S.-supplied missile controversy

Ukraine makes its own decisions regarding the choice of targets for its attacks, according to Pentagon spokesman Major Charlie Dietz on Monday. This statement was in response to a series of accusations from Russia following the attack by Ukrainian forces on Sevastopol using ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States.

Russia claims that Sevastopol was attacked on Sunday with five American ATACMS missiles. Russians blame Ukraine for the attack.

The Russian Ministry of Defence also stated that it is American specialists who input the flight data for ATACMS missiles based on their own satellite intelligence data, which means, according to their accusations, that the United States is also responsible for the attack on Sevastopol.

In response to the Sunday attack, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. Ambassador to Moscow, Lynne M. Tracy.

Dmitry Peskov also commented on the matter. "The United States' involvement in military operations, direct involvement in military operations, resulting in the death of Russian civilians, of course, cannot go without consequences, but what exactly – time will tell," said the Kremlin spokesman in an interview with the media.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, John Bass addressed the attack, stating that while the United States is concerned about civilian casualties in any conflict, he is unable to confirm reports of civilian deaths following the shelling of Sevastopol. Bass added that unlike Russia, which conducts systematic attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, Kyiv has so far been cautious to minimise civilian casualties.

"If you compare the loss of civilian life in Russia or in parts of Ukraine illegally occupied by Russia with the casualties among Ukrainians as a result of Russia's bombing of hospitals, schools, and a whole range of civilian targets, I think it would show the enormous gap between these cases," continued Bass.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added that Russia could "stop this war and the suffering it has caused today if it just ceased the occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory and stopped attacks on civilians." Miller emphasised that the decision to end the conflict lies in the hands of Russia, which should relinquish the occupation of Ukrainian territory and cease attacks on civilians.