Kyiv, June 3, 2025 — Ukraine's security service (SBU) has claimed responsibility for a dramatic underwater operation targeting the strategic Crimean Bridge, further escalating tensions in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The operation, reportedly carried out by the Ukrainian Special Forces, involved a massive 1,100 kg explosive device planted underwater near the bridge structure.
According to officials, the attack was meticulously planned over several months and executed with precision. A detonation device was triggered remotely, causing a powerful explosion near a critical segment of the 13-kilometre-long bridge that connects mainland Russia with the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Though the full extent of the damage has not yet been officially confirmed by Russian authorities, preliminary reports suggest disruptions to transport and logistical routes. Russian state media downplayed the attack, citing "minor disturbances," but satellite imagery and eyewitness accounts indicate a substantial impact.
The bridge, inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, has been a vital supply line for Russian military operations in southern Ukraine. It has been a target of Ukrainian resistance forces before, with previous attacks using drones and missiles, but this marks one of the largest underwater explosive operations in the war so far.
The strike follows a recent series of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airbases and bomber facilities, including one in the Rostov region that damaged long-range strategic aircraft.
Ukraine’s bold move signals its continued commitment to disrupt Russian control over Crimea and hamper its military logistics. In a brief statement, SBU sources said the bridge would "remain under threat as long as Russia continues its occupation and aggression."
International observers have noted that the renewed focus on Crimea could trigger harsh retaliatory measures from Moscow, which considers the bridge a symbol of its sovereignty over the peninsula.
As of now, no casualties have been confirmed, and security has been heightened across key Russian infrastructure points. NATO allies have yet to officially respond to the latest developments, but increased support for Ukraine is expected to be on the agenda at the upcoming security summit in Brussels.
The situation remains volatile, and further military escalations from both sides are anticipated in the coming days.
