Ukraine’s security service, known as the SBU, announced on Tuesday that it successfully executed a strategic operation that targeted the Crimean Bridge, a critical connection between Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. This operation involved the use of explosives that were ingeniously placed underwater, marking the third time Ukraine has struck this strategic infrastructure.
The SBU shared the details of this unique special operation via its official Telegram channel, stating, “The Security Service of Ukraine carried out a new unique special operation and struck the Crimean Bridge for the third time – this time underwater!” This sophisticated attack came just days after a daring air raid executed by the SBU on Sunday, which targeted Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers.
According to the SBU, its agents meticulously mined the piers of the road-and-rail Crimean Bridge, also referred to as the Kerch Bridge. The operation culminated in the detonation of the first explosive at precisely 4:44 a.m. local time on Tuesday. The agency emphasized that the entire operation spanned several months and involved the use of a substantial 1,100 kilograms of explosives, resulting in “severe damage” to the underwater pillars that support the bridge.
As of Tuesday morning, Russian officials had not issued an immediate response to Ukraine's claims regarding the attack. However, the bridge operator's official Telegram account reported that traffic on the bridge had been temporarily suspended following the explosion. By 9 a.m. local time, normal traffic operations were reportedly resumed, indicating the swift response of Russian authorities in restoring functionality.
Constructed after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the 12-mile long Crimean Bridge has served as a vital supply line for Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine. The bridge symbolizes President Vladimir Putin's ambition to solidify Russia's control over the Ukrainian peninsula. Tuesday's underwater attack represents a continued effort by Ukraine to undermine this critical infrastructure.
This latest strike marks the third assault on the Crimean Bridge since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The first notable attack occurred in October 2022, when a fuel truck explosion set a section of the bridge ablaze. Subsequently, in July 2023, the SBU announced that it had utilized an experimental sea drone to blow up another part of the bridge. Following each of these incidents, Russia has promptly undertaken repair efforts to restore the damaged sections.
Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the SBU, reinforced the significance of their operations by stating, “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always sees things through to the end and never does the same thing twice. We previously struck the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition, this time underwater.” This statement underscores the agency's commitment to innovative tactics in their ongoing efforts against Russian military capabilities.
