Moscow, 29 June 2024- Recent events have intensified suspicions that the Western alliance, led by the United States, may be taking a more direct role in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Allegations of American involvement in several incidents on Russian territory have stirred unrest in Russia, with some experts suggesting these developments could be indicative of the onset of World War III. Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken these events seriously, warning of severe consequences for those involved in terrorist attacks.

In Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan, gunmen attacked four synagogues and Christian churches in two cities, as well as a police checkpoint. These incidents resulted in 23 deaths, including 15 policemen. Amidst this turmoil, on June 23, Ukraine launched a missile attack on Russian-occupied Crimea, marking a significant shift in the conflict. Ukraine, which has largely resisted Russian aggression for the past two years, has now struck directly at Russian-held territory, raising fears of a broader escalation.

Russia claims that the Atacms missile fired by Ukraine at the port of Sevastopol contained a cluster bomb provided by the United States. In response, the Kremlin has threatened that the US will "suffer the consequences" and summoned the US ambassador in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Washington of causing civilian deaths in Russia, stating, "Washington is killing Russia's children. Direct involvement of the United States is costing civilian lives in Russia. Washington must suffer the consequences. Time will tell how it will be answered."

While Putin has not explicitly addressed the Crimea invasion, he has criticized Western countries for supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine and warned that Russia could provide weapons to other countries to target Western nations. The attack in Crimea signifies a shift in Ukraine's strategy from defense to counter-attack. Analysts are studying why Ukraine, after remaining largely defensive, has now opted for offensive actions. Russia asserts that this attack was carried out with American support, alleging that Washington gave Kiev the green light during a recent meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Biden at the G7 summit.

Russia also believes that America is behind the attacks in Dagestan. This suspicion is partly based on social media videos showing the assailants armed with American-made weapons. The question of how these attackers obtained such weapons is fueling further speculation.

The Crimean attack is being highlighted by Russia as a pivotal moment, with many fearing it could lead to a direct conflict between the US and Russia. Observers note that while America has been indirectly involved in the Ukraine-Russia war, recent developments suggest that a direct confrontation could be on the horizon.