Ukraine Strikes Crimean Bridge With Underwater Explosives In Latest Blow To Russia’s Supply Lines

 

Ukraine has confirmed a successful strike on the Crimean Bridge using underwater explosives, marking its third attack on the critical Russian supply route since the war began in 2022. The bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, connects mainland Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula and plays a key role in Moscow’s military logistics.

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced that it had planted and detonated 1,100 kilograms of explosives on the underwater piers supporting the bridge. The explosives were triggered at 4:44 a.m. local time, following months of preparation.

Though the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the SBU stated the strike caused “severe damage” to the structure’s submerged support columns. Traffic across the bridge was suspended twice throughout the day before eventually resuming in the evening.

The attack underscores Kyiv’s continued effort to disrupt Russian operations deep behind enemy lines. The SBU described the bridge as a “completely legitimate target,” emphasizing its role as a “logistical artery” used to supply Russian forces in mainland Ukraine.

Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU, oversaw the operation and highlighted the strategic significance of the strike. “We previously struck the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition, this time underwater,” Malyuk said. “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always sees things through to the end and never does the same thing twice.”

This latest operation follows a daring drone strike by the SBU just two days earlier, which targeted Russian airfields housing nuclear-capable bombers. That attack reportedly damaged 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers and inflicted an estimated $7 billion in losses, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

The Crimean Bridge, opened by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, holds not only military importance but also symbolic value. Constructed following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, the $3.7 billion structure was a centerpiece of Moscow’s efforts to solidify its control over the peninsula.

This marks the third time Ukraine has successfully targeted the bridge since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. In October 2022, a truck bomb ignited a massive fire on the bridge. In July 2023, Ukraine employed a sea drone to damage another section. On both occasions, Russia scrambled to conduct rapid repairs to restore traffic.

Following Tuesday’s incident, Russian authorities also suspended maritime operations in waters near Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city, reflecting heightened security concerns.

As Ukraine ramps up its unconventional warfare tactics, attacks like these continue to highlight the vulnerability of key Russian infrastructure and raise the cost of occupation for Moscow.