The Ukrainian intelligence service SBU has confirmed that it has carried out an attack on the Crimean Bridge, which is strategically important for Russia. The road and rail link has already been attacked twice since the beginning of the war.
Two days after the attacks on Russian long-range bomber bases, Ukraine claims it has once again hit a strategically important target of its enemy. The Ukrainian intelligence service (SBU) announced that it had damaged the Crimean Bridge, a crucial supply link for Russian troops, with explosives.
The 19-kilometer-long bridge over the Kerch Strait is the only direct connection between Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
The SBU reported that 1,100 kilograms of"TNT-equivalent explosives" were detonated underwater at one of the bridge's pillars at 4:44 a.m. Tuesday morning. It released a video purporting to show the explosion next to one of the bridge's many supporting pillars.
Third attack on bridge since 2022
The Reuters news agency was able to confirm the location based on the bridge's structure and supporting elements, which matched satellite images of the area. However, according to the dpa news agency, it is not possible to determine whether the pier was actually damaged.
"We have already hit the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. Today we continued this tradition underwater," the SBU said. The bridge is in fact in danger of collapsing. The agency emphasized that no civilians were harmed in the explosion. The attack had been in preparation for several months.
Russian military bloggers speak of a"sea drone"
Russian authorities reported that road traffic on the bridge connecting Russia with the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea had been temporarily suspended. Russian military bloggers declared the attack unsuccessful and speculated that a naval drone had been used.
The bridge is a flagship project of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It consists of a roadway and a separate railway line, both supported on concrete piles, giving way to a wider span supported by steel arches at the point where ships travel between the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov.
Second spectacular attack within a few days
On Sunday, Ukraine successfully launched a spectacular attack on Russian long-range bombers thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Drones concealed in containers were reportedly brought near several airfields and then launched into a coordinated attack. According to Ukrainian sources, over 40 aircraft were destroyed, including strategic bombers that were difficult to replace.
Acts of sabotage were also carried out on railway and highway bridges over the weekend, killing at least seven people, according to Russian sources. Russia's State Investigative Committee accused Ukraine of terrorism in connection with these attacks.
