U.S. Did Not Supply Weapons that can Cover Crimean Airfield from Ukraine: Report

The United States has said that it has not supplied Ukraine with long-range weapons that can reach Saky airfield in Russia-occupied Crimea from Ukraine.

"I don't have the answers to the question of what happened in Saky, the only thing I can say is that it was not ATACMS, because we did not provide them to Ukraine,” a high-ranking Pentagon official was quoted as saying by Voice of America at a briefing on Friday.

The Crimean air base, hosting Russian Su-30SM, Su-24 and IL-76 aircraft, is located at least 150km away from Ukrainian launch sites. U.S.-delivered HIMARS rockets have a maximum range of about 70km, while the ATACMS operational-tactical missile complex mentioned by the Pentagon official fires ballistic missiles up to 300km away.

Related news: Ukrainian-made Grim System used in Attacks on Russian Base in Crimea?

Ukrainian experts believe locally-made Grim (Sapsan) heavy missile launchers were used in the attacks on Saky. If true, this would be the first combat use of these systems. It could also be an unidentified Western system or a modified combat drone that caused destruction at Saky.

British intelligence believes Russia lost at least eight military aircraft - at least five Su-24 FENCER fighter-bombers and three Su-30 FLANKER jets in the explosions at Saky. “Saky’s central dispersal area has suffered serious damage, but the airfield probably remains serviceable,” the British defense ministry said.