Ukraine War: Russia Accuses US Of ‘Direct Involvement’

Ukraine War Russia Accuses US Of ‘Direct Involvement’
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The government of the United States has been accused by Russia of direct involvement in the Ukraine war, as the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain to world markets since Moscow’s invasion continued its passage to Lebanon without problems.

Moscow declared on Tuesday that it was reacting to remarks made by Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of military intelligence for Ukraine, regarding the manner in which Kyiv used long-range HIMARS rocket launch systems provided by the US based on what he referred to as excellent satellite imagery and real-time information.

While claiming that US officials were withholding specific target information, Skibitsky told the British newspaper Telegraph that US and Ukrainian intelligence officials had discussed assaults before and that Washington had a virtual veto over intended targets.

Russia’s defence ministry, headed by a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, said the interview showed that Washington was directly involved despite repeated assertions that it was limiting its role in the conflict to arms supplies because it did not want a direct confrontation with Moscow.

Read Also: US Is Trying To Be ‘Directly Involved’ In Ukraine War – Russia Quips

‘All this undeniably proves that Washington, contrary to White House and Pentagon claims, is directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine,’ the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

‘It is the Biden administration that is directly responsible for all Kyiv-approved rocket attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure in populated areas of Donbas and other regions, which have resulted in mass deaths of civilians,’ the defence ministry said.

There was no immediate reaction to the defence ministry’s allegations from the White House or Pentagon.

Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of carrying out devastating missile attacks on civilian targets on an almost daily basis. Moscow and Kyiv have denied deliberately targeting civilians.

Supplies of sophisticated long-range weapons systems from Western nations to Ukraine are seen as vital if Kyiv’s forces are to turn the tide of the war, in which Russia relies heavily on long-distance bombardments of urban areas.

The Russian defence ministry statement came after Turkey said that the first ship carrying Ukrainian grain since Russia’s invasion blocked exports more than five months ago was on track to safely arrive in Istanbul later on Tuesday.

The vessel’s departure on Monday from the Ukrainian port of Odesa for Lebanon via Turkey under a safe passage deal has raised hopes of further such departures which could help ease a burgeoning global food crisis.

Turkey expects roughly one grain ship to leave Ukrainian ports each day as long as the safe passage agreement holds, a senior Turkish official, who asked to remain anonymous, was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency on Tuesday.

The United Nations has warned of the risk of multiple famines this year because of the war in Ukraine.

Africa Daily News, New York

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