Ukraine Strikes Crimean Bridge with Underwater Explosives in Bold New Attack
In a fresh escalation of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine’s SBU security service announced that it had successfully carried out an underwater sabotage operation on the strategic Crimean Bridge, a vital link between Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula. The attack, which took place early Tuesday morning, involved the detonation of 1,100 kilograms (2,420 pounds) of explosives below the waterline, targeting the bridge’s underwater support pillars.
According to the SBU, the operation had been meticulously planned over several months and marks the third time Ukraine has hit the bridge—following earlier strikes in 2022 and 2023. "We continue the tradition—this time from beneath the water," the agency declared in a statement, also sharing footage showing a powerful underwater explosion near the concrete supports of the bridge. While the authenticity of the video’s timing remains unverified, the location was matched to the bridge structure using visual evidence.
The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, spans 19 kilometers (12 miles) across the Kerch Strait and serves as the only direct road and rail link between Russia and Crimea. Built after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, it was a symbolic and strategic priority for President Vladimir Putin and cost billions of dollars to complete. The structure includes a road and railway running parallel, supported by dozens of concrete pillars and steel arches at the shipping passage.
Following the blast, Russian authorities suspended traffic on the bridge for about three hours, from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. local time, although they did not provide a reason for the closure. Later, Russian media reported that the bridge had resumed operations as normal. However, Ukrainian officials suggested the damage could have longer-term implications for Russia’s logistics and supply lines to its forces fighting in southern Ukraine.
Russian military bloggers downplayed the incident, claiming the attack was unsuccessful and possibly carried out by a sea drone. However, they did not provide visual evidence to support their claims.
This underwater strike is part of a broader pattern of intensified Ukrainian efforts to hit Russian military infrastructure far from the frontlines. Just days before, Ukraine launched a drone operation named "Spider’s Web," aimed at disabling Russian long-range nuclear-capable bombers stationed deep within Russian territory.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Crimean Bridge has played a crucial role in transporting troops, weapons, and supplies. Its repeated targeting by Ukraine underlines its symbolic and tactical importance—and Kyiv’s determination to sever Russia’s grip on Crimea and the occupied territories in the south.
As Ukraine continues to expand the scope and sophistication of its operations, the attack signals not just a physical blow to Russian infrastructure, but also a psychological one, challenging the notion that Moscow’s hold over Crimea is secure.
