On Tuesday, Ukraine announced it successfully attacked the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula, marking its third assault on this critical supply route since the onset of the full-scale war in 2022. The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that its agents had planted explosives underwater to target the bridge’s piers. The first explosion occurred at 4.44 am local time, following a months-long operation to prepare for the attack.
The SBU confirmed that approximately 1100 kilograms of explosives were used, resulting in significant damage to the underwater pillars of the bridge. As a precaution, traffic on the bridge was halted on Tuesday morning and then again in the afternoon before resuming later in the evening.
While the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear, this latest attack represents Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to undermine Moscow’s logistical capabilities and demonstrate the costs of its continued aggression. Just days prior, the SBU executed a daring drone strike on Russia’s fleet of nuclear-capable bombers, resulting in considerable damage estimated at around $US7 billion, affecting a significant portion of Russia’s strategic missile carriers.
Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU, confirmed involvement in the Tuesday operation, expressing the agency’s intent to continuously evolve its tactics. He reiterated that the Crimean Bridge is a legitimate target, as it functions as a vital supply line for Russian military operations in mainland Ukraine.
The bridge, inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, serves not only as a crucial logistical route for troops but also bears symbolic significance for Russia’s strategy in the region. It embodies the Kremlin’s efforts to integrate Crimea more closely with Russia, a project originally costing around $US3.7 billion.
The Kerch Bridge has been targeted by Ukraine before: a significant explosion in October 2022, initiated by a truck bomb, resulted in fiery destruction, while a subsequent attack in July 2023 involved an experimental sea drone. In both instances, Russian authorities quickly mobilised repairs.
Following the recent explosion, Russian authorities temporarily suspended both vehicular and maritime traffic in the area surrounding Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city, in response to the attack. This ongoing conflict continues to escalate, with both sides displaying a commitment to challenging each other’s military capabilities and resources.