Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has carried out a third strike against the Crimean Bridge, this time through a covert underwater demolition operation. The mission, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, marks the most technically sophisticated attack on the structure to date.
At approximately 04:44 local time, underwater explosive charges placed beneath the bridge’s piers were detonated, according to a statement from the SBU. The explosives, with a combined yield equivalent to 1,100 kilograms of TNT, reportedly caused significant structural damage at the base of the bridge’s supports, leaving the crossing in a critical condition.
The operation, according to officials, had been under planning for several months and was executed without civilian casualties. General-Lieutenant Vasyl Maliuk, head of the SBU, directly oversaw both the planning and operational coordination.
Maliuk described the strike as a continuation of Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russia’s logistical capabilities in occupied Crimea. “God loves a trinity, and the SBU always sees its plans through without repetition,” he said. “We have previously struck the Crimean Bridge in 2022 and 2023. Today, we carried on that tradition—this time underwater.”
“This bridge remains a lawful target,” Maliuk added, citing its strategic use by Russian forces to support military operations in southern Ukraine. “The enemy has used it as a supply route. Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestation of occupation will be met with a firm response.”
Images published by the SBU following the announcement show underwater demolition specialists and footage of preparations carried out below the surface of the Kerch Strait. The precise location of the charges and the specific span affected by the detonation have not been disclosed.
Russian officials have not yet issued a detailed public response. State media acknowledged “an incident” involving the bridge early on Tuesday but avoided confirming the cause. Unofficial footage circulated on Russian social platforms showed disrupted road traffic and reports of limited rail delays, suggesting significant impact to the transport corridor.
The Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, connects the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula via a 19-kilometre road and rail structure spanning the Kerch Strait. Since its completion in 2018, the bridge has served as a critical logistics and military supply route for the Russian Federation, particularly following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine has previously targeted the bridge as part of its broader campaign to degrade Russian supply chains into Crimea and southern Ukraine. The first major attack occurred in October 2022, when a truck bomb caused substantial damage to the road deck. A second strike followed in July 2023, reportedly involving unmanned surface drones.
This latest attack reflects a notable escalation in operational complexity. While the previous two strikes took place above water, the 3 June operation was conducted entirely below the surface, involving submerged charges and extensive underwater reconnaissance and placement. Ukrainian security sources claim the operation demonstrates growing technical capacity and strategic reach.
The SBU has not indicated whether similar actions are planned in future, though Maliuk’s remarks suggested an ongoing campaign against infrastructure used to support Russia’s military activities. “There is no place on our territory for unlawful Russian objects,” he stated.
Western defence analysts have consistently regarded the Crimean Bridge as a vulnerable but heavily protected target. Russia has invested significant resources into securing the structure, including air defence systems, underwater sonar, and armed patrols.
Despite these measures, the bridge has remained susceptible to well-planned strikes, especially those that exploit underwater approaches. Tuesday’s attack is expected to prompt renewed scrutiny of Russia’s ability to defend key logistical infrastructure in occupied territories.
The long-term impact on the bridge’s usability remains unclear. Satellite imagery and engineering assessments will likely follow in the coming days as both Ukrainian and international observers monitor developments. If confirmed to be structurally compromised, the loss of the bridge could further strain Russian supply lines ahead of Ukraine’s expected summer operations in the south.
The government in Kyiv continues to assert that all Russian-controlled infrastructure within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders is subject to attack under the laws of war. The Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014 and a focus of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s stated goals for the liberation of occupied territory, remains a central point of contention in the conflict.
Tuesday’s incident marks the latest demonstration of Ukraine’s evolving asymmetric tactics as the war enters its fourth summer.
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