Ukraine Hits Crimean Bridge with Underwater Blast, Severely Damages Structure

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Ukraine-Russia War

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, confirmed it carried out a major underwater explosive attack on the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea to Russia, significantly damaging the bridge’s structural supports in a bold escalation of the ongoing conflict.

The attack, which Ukraine said involved over a metric tonne of TNT, severely damaged the underwater base of the 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge, a symbolic and strategic route used by Russian forces to supply troops in occupied Crimea. The bridge, inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, has been targeted multiple times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

This latest operation marks the third time the bridge has been struck by Ukrainian forces. Previous attacks in October 2022 and July 2023 involved a truck bomb and a naval drone, respectively, both causing significant damage and leading to temporary closures.

Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk of Ukraine’s SBU stated that the bridge is a “legitimate target,” describing it as a vital logistics artery for Russian military operations. He emphasized that the operation was carefully planned over several months and represented a firm response to Russian occupation.

The SBU released video footage showing the underwater detonation and accompanying debris, as well as an image revealing visible damage to the bridge’s side structure. Russian authorities temporarily suspended road traffic following the explosion.

The strike on the Kerch Bridge follows a recent long-range drone attack by Ukrainian forces that targeted Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the drone strikes damaged 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers, marking a significant blow to Moscow’s long-range strike capability.

In response, Russia has intensified its accusations, alleging that Ukraine was behind two separate railway bridge explosions on Russian soil over the weekend. These incidents reportedly led to train derailments, killing seven people and injuring over 100, including children.

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