BREAKING: Ukrainian Security Official Claims Responsibility for Attack on Crucial Bridge to Crimea
A high-ranking Ukrainian security official has recently asserted that Ukraine is responsible for an attack on the bridge connecting the
Nik Richie
A high-ranking Ukrainian security official has recently asserted that Ukraine is responsible for an attack on the bridge connecting the annexed Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland. This bridge holds immense strategic significance for Moscow as it serves as a vital supply route for Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and stands as a personal project of President Vladimir Putin.
Referred to as the Kerch Bridge, this nearly 12-mile crossing is not only the longest in Europe but also carries substantial symbolic importance. Monday’s attack marked the second assault on the bridge since Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine, with a fuel tanker exploding while crossing it back in October.
A confidential source within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) disclosed to CNN that the recent attack was a collaborative operation involving the SBU and Ukraine’s naval forces. The source, requesting anonymity due to lack of authorization, revealed this information to the network.
According to officials appointed by Russia, the attack resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, with their daughter sustaining injuries.
According to Telegram channel Grey Zone, which supports the Yevgeny Prigozhin-led Wagner mercenary group, the assault consisted of two strikes at approximately 3 a.m. local time on Monday (8 p.m. ET Sunday), causing damage to a section of the bridge. However, CNN cannot independently verify these reports.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed the loss of two lives and injuries to another individual during the incident. The damaged car belonged to the victims, who were a couple, and their daughter was wounded.
Russia’s Transport Ministry shared on Telegram that there was damage to the bridge’s roadway spans, referring to the portions between the support piers. Visual evidence depicted a partial collapse in the section of the bridge that accommodates both road and railway tracks.
Vladimir Konstantinov, the head of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea, blamed the Ukrainian side for the bridge’s damage in a statement on his Telegram channel. He referred to the incident as a new crime committed by the “terrorist regime” in Kyiv. Notably, Konstantinov specified that the railway track remained unaffected by the strike.