The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out a series of special operations today, including a strike on the Crimean Bridge — marking the third such attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The bridge, a strategic infrastructure link between the Russian mainland and occupied Crimea, has long been a key logistics route for the Russian military and is frequently cited by Ukrainian officials as a legitimate military target.
While details remain unclear, Russian state media confirmed disruptions in the area, reporting that vehicular traffic on the bridge was halted due to what they described as a “complicated situation”. The precise nature of the incident is yet to be determined. However, preliminary speculation from Russian commentators includes the possibility of a pre-planted explosive device targeting the bridge’s structural supports, a maritime drone operation, or the involvement of underwater demolition units.
This latest operation follows a pattern of Ukrainian attempts to degrade Russia’s logistical capacity in the south, particularly with regard to military transport routes that sustain its presence in southern Ukraine, including parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Kyiv maintains that the Crimean Bridge serves as a conduit for Russian aggression and as such remains a valid target under the laws of armed conflict.
Simultaneously, activity was reported in the Bay of Sevastopol, where maritime movement was temporarily suspended. The city — Russia’s principal naval base on the Black Sea — has repeatedly been the focus of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes. Throughout the current conflict, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has suffered significant losses, leading to the redeployment of several key assets to Novorossiysk, a port on the Russian mainland.
The strategic significance of Crimea — particularly its ports and the Kerch Strait crossing — continues to shape both Ukrainian military planning and broader geopolitical assessments. Ukrainian officials assert that the bridge not only facilitates Russia’s military logistics but also supports the occupation infrastructure within Crimea. According to Kyiv, severing this route is instrumental to isolating Russian forces on the peninsula and complicating their ability to conduct operations further afield.
The bridge, which was constructed by Russia without Ukraine’s consent following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, spans a maritime zone internationally recognised as Ukrainian territorial waters. Its existence remains a point of legal and diplomatic contention. Moscow claims sovereignty over Crimea, a position not recognised by Ukraine or most of the international community.
In today’s statement, Ukrainian sources reiterated that the Kerch crossing was not only unlawful in origin but has become integral to what Kyiv describes as a campaign of occupation and repression. The bridge reportedly facilitates the movement of supplies to Russian troops operating in Ukraine’s southern regions, as well as supporting the administrative functioning of the occupation authorities.
Military analysts have noted that the destruction or disabling of the bridge would significantly hamper Russian capabilities in Crimea, particularly given the constraints of alternative overland routes through the occupied south. Ukrainian forces have steadily targeted railway hubs, storage depots, and command infrastructure across the region in an apparent bid to degrade Russia’s operational effectiveness.
The operation comes amid continued Ukrainian efforts to assert maritime pressure in the Black Sea, including reported long-range strikes on airfields used by Russian aircraft for bombing campaigns against Ukrainian cities. Kyiv alleges that many of these aircraft are used to target civilian areas, contributing to the extensive humanitarian toll of the war.
Although Russia has not formally acknowledged the full extent of the damage, the Kremlin has faced increasing difficulties in concealing such events from domestic audiences. Independent monitoring channels suggest that both military and civilian morale has been affected by the steady erosion of Russian infrastructure linked to its war effort.
As the war enters its fourth summer, Ukrainian forces appear to be focusing on weakening Russia’s ability to project power from Crimea — a strategy that, if successful, may prove decisive in shifting the momentum on the southern front.
Whether the Crimean Bridge will remain a functioning component of Russia’s supply chain in the weeks ahead remains to be seen. For now, Kyiv has sent a clear message: critical infrastructure used to support the war will be targeted wherever possible.
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