Ukraine Claims Underwater Attack on Crimean Bridge
Ukrainian Security Services report a successful underwater bombing operation targeting key support pillars of the Crimean Bridge.
On Tuesday morning, the Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) announced they successfully executed an underwater attack on the Crimean Bridge, detonating 1,100 kg of explosives targeting the bridge's bearing pillars.
This operation marks a continuation of previous attacks on the strategic infrastructure that links the occupied Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland—a crucial logistics route for the Russian military.
The SBU shared details of the operation via Telegram, emphasizing it as a notable achievement in their ongoing military efforts against Russian-held territories.
The SBU chief, Vasyl Malyuk, referred to the attack as a continuation of their established practice of targeting the bridge, which had been previously struck in both 2022 and 2023. The attack is notably the first of its kind conducted underwater.
Reports indicated that after the blast, Russian authorities briefly closed the bridge for 'security reasons' but quickly reopened it without further explanation.
Soviet-era bombers, reportedly part of a Russian military counter-offensive, were observed launching air raids shortly after the attack took place.
Concurrently, the SBU had recently claimed to have targeted numerous aircraft within the Russian fleet using innovative drone access brought by unwitting Russian truck drivers.
The Crimean Bridge was inaugurated in 2018 following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was designed to solidify logistical support for military operations during the ongoing conflict.
In related military developments, over 700,000 residents in Russian-occupied territories of southern Ukraine experienced power outages due to Ukrainian strikes targeting infrastructure in the regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Reports indicated that the damage resulted from Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks that significantly affected electrical installations.
Officials reported that around 600,000 residents in Zaporizhia were affected by the outage, with additional impacts in Kherson.
Russian authorities attempted to restore services and redirect energy sources as necessary.
These attacks occurred in the context of heightened military engagements, as peace negotiations had recently been conducted in Istanbul, where Russia reiterated demands concerning the status of annexed territories, including Crimea.
Meanwhile, military strikes continued to impact civilian areas within Ukraine, with reported casualties in the northeastern city of Sumy where three fatalities and 16 injuries were confirmed following a Russian missile attack targeting residential buildings.
This operation marks a continuation of previous attacks on the strategic infrastructure that links the occupied Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland—a crucial logistics route for the Russian military.
The SBU shared details of the operation via Telegram, emphasizing it as a notable achievement in their ongoing military efforts against Russian-held territories.
The SBU chief, Vasyl Malyuk, referred to the attack as a continuation of their established practice of targeting the bridge, which had been previously struck in both 2022 and 2023. The attack is notably the first of its kind conducted underwater.
Reports indicated that after the blast, Russian authorities briefly closed the bridge for 'security reasons' but quickly reopened it without further explanation.
Soviet-era bombers, reportedly part of a Russian military counter-offensive, were observed launching air raids shortly after the attack took place.
Concurrently, the SBU had recently claimed to have targeted numerous aircraft within the Russian fleet using innovative drone access brought by unwitting Russian truck drivers.
The Crimean Bridge was inaugurated in 2018 following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and was designed to solidify logistical support for military operations during the ongoing conflict.
In related military developments, over 700,000 residents in Russian-occupied territories of southern Ukraine experienced power outages due to Ukrainian strikes targeting infrastructure in the regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Reports indicated that the damage resulted from Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks that significantly affected electrical installations.
Officials reported that around 600,000 residents in Zaporizhia were affected by the outage, with additional impacts in Kherson.
Russian authorities attempted to restore services and redirect energy sources as necessary.
These attacks occurred in the context of heightened military engagements, as peace negotiations had recently been conducted in Istanbul, where Russia reiterated demands concerning the status of annexed territories, including Crimea.
Meanwhile, military strikes continued to impact civilian areas within Ukraine, with reported casualties in the northeastern city of Sumy where three fatalities and 16 injuries were confirmed following a Russian missile attack targeting residential buildings.