Ukraine has struck the bridge connecting Russia to Crimea

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

In a statement released via social media, SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk said: “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always brings what is conceived to the end and never repeats itself. Previously, we struck the Crimean Bridge in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater.”

The operation, which detonated 1,100 kilograms of explosives (TNT equivalent) beneath the bridge at 4:44 a.m., was carried out without civilian casualties, the SBU said. Video released by the agency shows an underwater blast, with subsequent damage to the submerged piers of the bridge.

The Crimean Bridge, constructed by Russia following its 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea, is a vital link between mainland Russia and the occupied peninsula. It serves as a key route for transporting military personnel, equipment, and supplies to Russian-occupied areas in southern Ukraine.

A Strategic and Symbolic Target

The attack is the third successful Ukrainian operation against the bridge since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Previous strikes in October 2022 and July 2023 inflicted damage but failed to render the bridge inoperable.

Ukraine’s Navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, confirmed later on June 3 that the "key and most complex" part of the bridge had been impacted. The operation was reportedly personally overseen by SBU chief Malyuk, underlining the mission’s strategic and symbolic importance.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) responded by announcing the detention of an alleged Ukrainian intelligence agent in Crimea, claiming the individual was involved in constructing the explosive device under Kyiv’s orders.

Russian Response and Continued Tensions

Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that three Ukrainian drones were downed over Crimea around the time of the attack. Local Russian Telegram channels reported that the bridge was closed between 6 and 9 a.m., and again in the afternoon, after a new explosion was reported near Kerch around 3 p.m. Helicopters were reportedly seen patrolling the Kerch Strait, and several channels suggested a renewed drone offensive on the peninsula may be underway.

The bridge’s symbolic value to Moscow cannot be overstated. Costing nearly $4 billion, its construction was a major political statement by the Kremlin, physically linking Russia to the annexed territory and asserting sovereignty over the disputed region.

Broader Operational Context

The underwater attack comes just two days after a mass Ukrainian drone strike on Russian strategic aviation sites on June 1. Both operations reflect an intensifying Ukrainian strategy aimed at degrading Russian military capabilities and striking high-value symbolic targets as part of its broader resistance to the ongoing occupation.

As of late June 3, no official Russian casualty figures or damage assessments have been released. The Crimean Bridge remains a focal point in the war’s southern theater and a potent emblem of the high-stakes conflict over Crimea’s future.

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News Politics Ukraine Russia Crimea