UPDATE - Russia says transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine increases security risks for its territories

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS BY KREMLIN SPOKESMAN

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian ambassador to the US said on Thursday that transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine "increases the threat to the security of Crimea, including Sevastopol, new Russian regions and other Russian cities."

"Local officials retroactively' confirmed the fact that extremely dangerous weapons had been sent to Kyiv. It is impossible to justify such underhand act," Anatoly Antonov said on Telegram.

The White House has confirmed it is carrying out secretive deliveries of the long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine, where Moscow launched a "special military operation" in February 2022.

Antonov rejected the "particularly cynical" statements by US officials claiming Kyiv "promised not to use missiles against targets on Russian territory."

"Who should be reassured by such lies? How can we ignore the numerous terrorist attacks by Kyiv's criminals? Deadly strikes on hospitals, schools, kindergartens, bridges and even their own servicemen?" he questioned.

The ambassador said the Russian army has already shot down several ATACMS missiles and "will continue to do so."

"Aren’t local politicians afraid of drowning in the quagmire of conflict? Washington will not be able to get out of the horrible swamp that has absorbed the blood of ordinary soldiers," he said.

Separately, deputy head of the military and political directorate of the armed forces Apty Alaudinov slammed the latest package of the US aid to Ukraine as "financing of terrorist attacks."

"We must understand that the package of assistance that America is trying to provide to Ukraine today is initially formed so that Ukraine cannot do something supernatural on the battlefield. Two thirds of this money will definitely remain in America. Some of the money, including in the form of ATACMS (missiles) and other (weapons), will go to help allegedly Ukraine. In essence, this can be called the financing of terrorist acts," he stressed.

Alaudinov said he expected the ATACMS missiles would be used to hit targets on the Russian territory, including the Kerch Bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula with mainland Russia, which is a "priority target" for Ukraine.

Commenting on ATACMS deliveries to Ukraine at a press briefing in Moscow on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US, being "directly involved" in this conflict, is constantly increasing the heaviness and range of the weapons transferred to Kyiv.

"This will not be able to fundamentally change the outcome of the 'special military operation,' we will achieve our goal, but it will cause more problems for Ukraine itself," he said.

US President Joe Biden signed Wednesday a $95 billion spending bill into law that funds his top-line national security priorities, including nearly $61 billion for Ukraine.