Last Updated:
The Crimean Bridge was hit for the third time in three years and Ukraine says it is now unsafe for use.
Ukraine’s spy agency says it used 1,100 kg of explosives to damage the Crimean Bridge, a key Russian supply route. (IMAGE: X)
Ukraine’s main intelligence agency on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a fresh strike on the Crimean Bridge, a crucial Russian supply route, saying it used underwater explosives to damage the structure for the third time in three years.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the operation was months in the making and involved divers planting about 1,100 kg of explosives on the bridge’s underwater supports. The blast, which went off at 4:44 am local time, did not harm any civilians, officials said. The agency now claims the bridge “unsafe for use.”
SBU chief Lt Gen Vasyl Malyuk personally oversaw the mission. In a statement after the attack, he said: “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always finishes what it starts. We struck the Crimean Bridge in 2022 and 2023. Today, we continued this tradition – this time underwater.”
A video of the blast was shared by Ukrainian side on social media. News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
He added the bridge was a legitimate military target as Russia uses it to move troops and supplies into occupied Ukrainian territory.
The first major attack on the Crimean Bridge took place in October 2022, when a truck bomb caused a massive explosion, killing several people and damaging a key section of the bridge. In July 2023, the bridge was hit again in a night-time maritime drone strike that damaged its road span and briefly disrupted traffic. SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk has since confirmed that Ukrainian forces were behind both operations, calling them part of a sustained campaign to target Russia’s military logistics in Crimea.
The attack came just two days after Ukraine launched another major strike deep inside Russian territory. As part of “Operation Spiderweb,” drones powered by artificial intelligence and launched from within Russia reportedly targeted key airfields, destroying or damaging over 40 aircraft, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 bombers and an A-50 radar plane.
Ukrainian officials claimed the June 1 drone strike knocked out 34% of Russia’s cruise missile carriers, catching airfield defenses off guard. The estimated cost of damage ranged between $2 billion and $7 billion, they claimed.
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
- First Published:
Source link
[ad_3]
