The Security Service of Ukraine, the SBU, on Tuesday struck the Crimean Bridge with underwater explosives, on the latest attack on key transport linke between the peninsula and Russia.
The service reported that the underwater section of the bridge was blown up with 1,100 kg in TNT equivalent at 4:44 AM. There have been no casualties during the attack. According to the SBU, the bridge was seriously damaged at the bottom level and is in an emergency condition. The operation to strike the bridge was prepared for several months and was supervised and coordinated by chief of the Security Service Vasyl Malyuk. "The Crimean Bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops. Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our harsh response," - SBU head Vasyl Malyuk said in a statement. The military official warned that “there is no place for any illegal Russian objects on the territory of our state."
Crimean Bridge suffered significant damage during the two previous attacks in 2022 and 2023. The latest attack on Crimea Bridge came two days after Ukraine’s surprise operation codenamed Spider web, in which over forty Russian strategic bombers were destroyed across four airfields in Russia. The surprise operation had been in preparation for a year and half.
Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 and has been subject to drone and missile strikes of the Ukrainain army that has thought to weaken Krmelin's position in the Peninsula. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly stated that Kyiv cannot recognize Russia's invasion of Crimea as it is against the country's constitution. The attack follows Monday's peace talks in which Russia and Ukraine failed to reach an unconditional ceasefire but agreed to exchange 1,000 more prisoners of war, with the wounded and underage servicemen being a priority.
