Crimean Bridge attack: Ukraine claims underwater sabotage
Another attack on the Crimean Bridge is underway, according to Ukrainian sources on Telegram. The Russian side officially reported only on the closure of traffic on the crossing.
"Vehicle traffic on the Crimean Bridge is temporarily blocked," the official channel of the Crimean Bridge on Telegram informs.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) issued a statement about an explosion. The goal of the attack was said to be the bridge's supports.
Atack on the Crimean Bridge
"The SBU has conducted a new, unique special operation and attacked the Crimean Bridge for the third time, this time underwater," the service stated on its website.
The statement explained that the operation took several months. "SBU agents planted explosives on the supports of this illegal structure. And today, without any civilian casualties, at 4:44 AM, the first explosive charge was detonated!" the SBU announced.
According to the statement, as a result of the explosion, the underwater supports of the bridge at the sea floor level were severely damaged. Roughly 1,100 kilograms of explosives, in TNT equivalent, were used for the attack.
"The bridge is in a de facto emergency state," the SBU emphasized.
The operation was personally supervised by the head of the SBU, General Vasyl Malyuk.
"God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always carries through its plans and never repeats itself. Previously, we have hit the Crimean Bridge twice—in 2022 and 2023. Today we continued this tradition underwater. There is no place for any illegal structures of the Russian Federation on the territory of our state," he said.
"Therefore, the Crimean Bridge is a completely 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 meet with our resolute response," the head of the SBU emphasized.
The Crimean Bridge was built between 2016 and 2019 by Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014.
The Rybar Telegram channel, affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, claims that the Ukrainian Armed Forces most likely did not plant explosives on the bridge but rather hit it with an underwater drone.
