Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has declared a successful operation, claiming responsibility for striking the Crimea bridge with underwater explosives. This intricate mission, they say, was the culmination of several months of planning and execution.
According to the SBU, their agents strategically “mined the supports” of the bridge with a staggering 1,100kg of explosives. This action, they assert, inflicted “severe damage” to the lower level of the bridge’s crucial supports. The “first explosive device” was reportedly detonated early Tuesday morning, with the SBU assuring no civilian casualties occurred. It’s important to note that the information provided by the SBU could not be immediately verified.
Initially, Russian media reported a brief closure of the bridge to traffic, noting its reopening by 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). However, later in the day, local authorities issued a warning, confirming the bridge was indeed closed once more. Unconfirmed reports swirling on social media suggested additional explosions had rocked the structure. The official Telegram channel providing operational updates about the bridge urged those in the vicinity to “remain calm and follow the instructions of the transport security officers.”
Russia has yet to offer an official comment on Tuesday morning’s attack. However, Russian military bloggers have speculated that an underwater drone, rather than planted explosives, might have hit a protective barrier.
The SBU revealed that its director, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, personally oversaw the entire operation and coordinated its meticulous planning. In a Telegram post, Malyuk was quoted stating that Ukraine had previously targeted the Crimea bridge in both 2022 and 2023, and was now “continuing this tradition under water.”
“No illegal Russian facilities have a place on the territory of our state,” Malyuk asserted. “Therefore, the Crimean Bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops.”
The bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, was constructed by Russia after its 2014 invasion and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. It was famously inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin with significant fanfare in 2018. For Ukraine, the bridge stands as a potent symbol of Russian occupation, and Moscow has vigilantly guarded it. This makes any attack on it, whether by underwater drones or explosives, a remarkable strategic achievement.
Tuesday’s strike on the bridge comes barely 48 hours after Ukraine launched a widespread operation dubbed ‘Spider Web,’ hitting several targets across Russia. Kyiv had indicated it managed to smuggle over 100 drones into Russia, purportedly delivered near air bases by unsuspecting lorry drivers. These drones then reportedly deployed from the lorries to attack Russia’s valuable strategic bombers at various locations throughout the country.
