Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) recently carried out an operation targeting the Kerch Bridge, a crucial infrastructure connection between the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and mainland Russia. The attack emphasizes yet again Ukraine’s months-long develop strategy to target Russian military lines of communications and sustainment. Further, the SBU confirmed that the operation used underwater explosives whose purpose was to damage the bridge’s underwater supports.
The Kerch Bridge is some 12 miles long and is a daunting symbol of Russian power. When President Vladimir Putin opened it in 2018, that gave it enormous importance to Russia. He claimed it was the deal that would reestablish Russia as a great power. It has received the distinction of being a main target of Ukrainian military efforts. Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Ukrainian forces have damaged this bridge three times. This ongoing, intentional desecration signifies the bridge’s tactical value.
The first blow landed last October 8, when a truck bomb exploded on the bridge, leaving destruction in its wake. In July 2023, Ukraine made its second strike. They reportedly blew up part of the bridge using an experimental naval drone. The newest operation focused on the structure, namely the underwater supports of the bridge. SBU chief Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk personally supervised this mission on a major scale.
Ukrainian forces made a daring strike on the heavily defended Kerch Bridge. Their actions are an impressive demonstration of commitment to challenge the Russian occupation of Crimea. The significance of this target was emphasized by Lt Gen Maliuk, who stated, “Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our tough response.” He further described the Kerch Bridge as “an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops.”
In the wake of the most recent strike, traffic across the bridge remained stopped for nearly four hours. Unfortunately our attack had to coincide with such a tragic incident. This Flightradar24 screenshot shows two passenger trains colliding head-on after explosions knocked out two railway bridges in Russia. Reports say that at least seven people have been killed, and at least 113 more have been hurt, including children.
Russia was swift to react to these changes. In response to the attacks on the railway bridges, the state’s investigative committee charged Ukraine with committing “acts of terrorism,” threatening international relations. The burgeoning tensions over the Kerch Bridge illustrate the scope of Russian-Ukrainian hostilities. This predicament further highlights the broader impact on regional security.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the importance of the Kerch Bridge to his comments. He claimed that the military actions taken by Ukraine engage in direct response to the occupation. “Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our tough response,” he asserted, reaffirming his government’s resolve against Russian aggression.
The bridge functions as one of the key logistics routes for Russian forces conducting operations out of Crimea. Ukraine is attacking this infrastructure as a means to degrade Russian military capabilities. At the same time, in doing so, it sends a strong message about its independence and territorial integrity.