Russia
On June 24, the Russian authorities in Sevastopol declared a day of mourning in memory of those killed in the missile strike. [2]
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the "involvement of the United States, the direct involvement, as a result of which Russian civilians are killed, cannot be without consequences". [5]
Mikhail Razvozhayev, particularly emphasized that the strike occurred on the holiday of Trinity [ ru ], when peaceful people were returning from work or had gone to the sea with their children. Razvozhayev tried to link the strike on Sevastopol to the terrorist attacks in Dagestan. [8] On June 27, following a special meeting, Razvozhayev stated that the occupational administration does not plan to close the beaches in Sevastopol, only recommending that people refrain from visiting the beaches on Sevastopol’s North Side, which, according to Razvozhayev, do not have shelters. [9]
The Russian Ministry of Defence accused the United States of being directly responsible for the attack, stating "All flight missions for the American ATACMS operational-tactical missiles are entered by American specialists based on U.S.’ own satellite reconnaissance data". [1] [3]
The Investigative Committee of Russia opened a criminal case as "terrorist act". [2]
Ukraine
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to strike Crimea, because, in his view, there are and can be no beaches, tourist zones, or other "fictitious signs of peaceful life", since the peninsula is occupied territory where full-scale war continues. [10]
