Ukraine Claims Successful Underwater Strike on Crimea Bridge

KYIV, June 3 (Reuters) – As reported by Reuters, Ukraine’s SBU security service announced that it successfully targeted the crucial road and rail bridge connecting Russia to Crimea using explosives placed below the waterline. The operation involved a hefty 1,100 kilograms (about 2,420 pounds) of explosives detonated in the early hours of the morning,damaging key underwater supports of this vital supply route for Russian military operations.

According to updates from a Russian news outlet that regularly monitors the bridge’s status, operations were halted for approximately three hours between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time. while they did not specify why there was a temporary closure, they confirmed that normal operations resumed shortly after.

The SBU remarked on their ongoing efforts against the Crimean Bridge, noting previous strikes in both 2022 and earlier this year. They humorously referred to their latest underwater mission as part of an established “tradition.” Accompanying their declaration was video evidence showing an explosion near one of the bridge’s many support pillars.

While Reuters verified details about the location through satellite imagery and structural elements matching those seen in past reports,they could not confirm when exactly the footage was recorded. Some russian military bloggers dismissed claims about notable damage from this attack and speculated it might have been executed using Ukrainian sea drones.In another bold move over recent days, Ukraine initiated drone strikes under an operation dubbed “Spider’s Web,” targeting long-range bomber aircraft stationed at various airfields across Russia—demonstrating their expanding capabilities beyond immediate conflict zones.

The Crimean bridge spans approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) over the Kerch Strait and serves as Russia’s sole direct transport link to Crimea—a region annexed from Ukraine back in 2014.This structure has become emblematic of President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions; featuring separate lanes for road traffic and railways supported by concrete stilts transitioning into steel arches where maritime traffic flows between two seas—the Black Sea and Azov Sea.

During Russia’s invasion beginning February 2022, this bridge played a pivotal role as troops crossed into Crimea before advancing into southern regions like Kherson and Zaporizhzhia—highlighting its strategic importance throughout ongoing hostilities.

(Reporting by Pavel polityuk and Olena harmash in Kyiv; additional reporting by Andrew Osborn; editing by Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich)