Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, carried out a fresh attack on the bridge connecting Russia with occupied Crimea, just days after launching a devastating surprise assault on airbases deep within Russian territory.
Video footage shows smoke billowing over the Kerch Bridge following a powerful underwater blast, which the SBU said contained 1,100kg of explosives that “severely damaged” its foundations.
The Kerch Bridge was built in 2018 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea four years prior. The bridge holds huge symbolic and sentimental value for Vladimir Putin, who views it as the embodiment of his goal to permanently bind Ukraine to Russia.
The incident is the third time the bridge has been attacked since the start of the war. In October 2022, Ukrainian forces attempted to destroy it by detonating a truck full of explosives, which caused structural damage and set fire to part of the bridge.
They tried again in 2023 with an experimental sea drone but only succeeded in causing minor damage. In both cases, Russia shut down the bridge and moved quickly to repair the damaged sections.
In a post on Telegram announcing the new strike, SBU chief Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk said: “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always brings what is conceived to the end and never repeats itself.
“Previously, we struck the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater. There is no place for any illegal Russian facilities on the territory of our state.”
He added: “Therefore, the Crimean Bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops. Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our tough response.”
The bombs detonated at 4:44 a.m., causing the bridge to temporarily close. Pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported it had been closed for inspection, possibly to examine damage, and it was reopened shortly afterward.
At around 3 p.m., Crimean Wind reported the bridge had closed again, citing a “powerful explosion” heard by locals and reports of a fresh drone strike from Ukraine. These claims have yet to be independently verified.
The attack comes days after Ukraine launched a devastating surprise attack on Russia in which hundreds of drones destroyed a huge swath of the Kremlin’s strategic bombers.
Targeting five airbases deep within Russian territory, Ukraine’s drones managed to destroy about 40 aircraft, around a third of Putin’s fleet, totaling around $7 billion, including irreplaceable nuclear bombers and experimental craft.
Announcing the news on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed he had personally overseen the surprise attack, nicknamed “Operation Spider-Web,” which had taken more than 18 months to plan. Ukraine reportedly did not inform President Donald Trump’s White House of the strike beforehand.
“We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X. “I outlined the tasks for the near term and also defined our positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday.”
Both Ukrainian and Russian officials met for peace talks in Istanbul on Monday but failed to make any progress in agreeing to a ceasefire.
