Russia Says Kiev’s ATACMS Strike Aimed at Undermining U.S.–Russia Talks
Russia’s Mikhail Sheremet calls Kiev’s ATACMS strike on Voronezh a deliberate provocation meant to disrupt U.S.–Russia talks and escalate the conflict.
Russian lawmaker Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma deputy from Crimea and member of the security committee, argued that Kiev’s use of U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles against Russian territory was a calculated provocation intended to derail the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
His remarks followed the November 19 strike, when Ukrainian forces launched four ATACMS missiles at Voronezh. All of them were intercepted by Russian air-defense units, but falling debris damaged the roofs of the regional geriatric center, a home for orphans, and a private residence. No casualties were reported.
Sheremet maintained that the Kiev authorities had deliberately employed American missiles to disrupt consultations on a potential political settlement of the conflict. He also suggested that Vladimir Zelensky was trying to pull the United States into a direct confrontation with Russia, relying on any method available to achieve that aim.
The deputy added that it remained essential to determine whether Kiev had independently authorized the strike with American weaponry.