Egypt Daily News – In a bold and meticulously planned operation, Ukrainian forces have struck the Kerch Bridge, Russia’s highly symbolic and strategically vital link to occupied Crimea for the third time since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.
The bridge, which spans the Kerch Strait and connects the Russian mainland to the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, was targeted in an underwater assault coordinated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). The agency released dramatic footage of the attack on Tuesday, revealing a powerful explosion beneath the structure’s supports.
“This operation took several months to prepare,” the SBU said in an official statement posted on Telegram. “SBU agents mined the underwater pillars of this illegal construction. The first explosive was detonated at precisely 4:44 a.m. without causing any civilian casualties.”
According to the SBU, approximately 1,100 kilograms of TNT-equivalent explosives were used, causing severe damage to the bridge’s underwater supports. While traffic was halted in the aftermath, Russian authorities scrambled to contain the impact.
The Kerch Bridge has long been considered a critical artery for Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine, serving as a major logistical route for transporting troops, weapons, and supplies to occupied territories. But beyond its tactical significance, the bridge stands as a potent emblem of Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, a territorial grab widely condemned by the international community.
This latest strike follows a sweeping drone offensive by Kyiv against Russian strategic aviation targets just days earlier. Ukrainian officials confirmed that the bridge attack was overseen personally by SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk, who characterized the operation as both precise and inevitable.
“Third time’s a charm,” Maliuk said. “The SBU always completes its missions—and never repeats itself.”
He reaffirmed that the Crimean Bridge remains a legitimate military target for Ukraine. “Crimea is Ukraine,” Maliuk declared. “And any manifestations of occupation will be met with force.”
Russian Telegram channels reported that the bridge was closed to civilian traffic on Tuesday morning, and several Russian media outlets claimed that a Ukrainian drone had been intercepted above the structure, with debris falling onto the road. Russia’s Ministry of Defense also asserted that three Ukrainian drones were downed over Crimea during the night.
Previous Strikes: A Pattern of Precision
Ukraine first targeted the Kerch Bridge in October 2022, detonating explosives in a truck as it crossed the span. The explosion ignited a train’s fuel tanks and collapsed a section of roadway into the sea. It took Moscow nearly ten months to restore the bridge.
In July 2023, Kyiv struck again this time using naval drones to damage its support pillars. Despite increased security measures since then, the bridge has remained a vulnerable symbol of Moscow’s occupation.
While Russia continues to tout its air defenses and reinforce key infrastructure, Ukraine’s third successful strike sends a clear message: no symbol of occupation is beyond reach.
