On Tuesday, Russia has alleged that the United States made a direct participation in the Ukraine conflict, as the first cargo vessel transporting Ukrainian grain to international markets since Russia's invasion docked safely off the coast of Turkey.
Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence for Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky made comments about the use of U.S.-made and supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System rocket systems by Ukraine, citing what he called "clear satellite imagery and real-time intelligence," and the basis for the U.S. involvement in the war.
Russia's defense minister, led by a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, stated that the United States has been dragged into into the war despite repeated claims it was reducing its involvement to the provision of weapons because it did not wish to directly confront Moscow.
Skibitsky said there were consultations between U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence officials before the assault, and that the U.S. effectively had a veto over intended targets, despite the fact that U.S. authorities were not providing direct targeting information.
All of this indisputably indicates, contrary to White House and Pentagon statements, that Washington is directly involved in the Ukraine crisis, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.
There was no immediate response from the White House or the Pentagon to the accusations made by the ministry.
However, the Pentagon denied Moscow's assertions that Russia had destroyed six American-made HIMARS since the Ukraine conflict began on February 24. Russia frequently asserts that it has destroyed HIMARS, but has yet to provide proof.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of launching almost daily catastrophic missile assaults against civilian targets. Each side denies intentionally attacking civilians.
The precision and range of missile systems supplied by the West were designed to diminish Russia's artillery advantage, but on Tuesday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that despite these supplies, his country's forces could not yet overcome Russian advantages in heavy guns and manpower.
In the meantime, a U.N.-brokered plan to unblock the sale of Ukrainian grain showed early success on July 22; Turkey reported that the first loaded ship since Russia's invasion more than five months ago was safely anchored off the coast of Turkey.
The ship was at the entry of the Bosphorus Strait, which connects the Black Sea to global markets, at approximately 1800 GMT on Tuesday.
