Ukraine’s Security Service delivers third major blow to Crimean Bridge

The operation, which spanned several months of meticulous planning, involved mining the underwater supports of the bridge’s pillars with explosives equivalent to 1,100 kg of TNT. The first detonation was activated at 04:44 a.m. on June 3, causing severe damage to the underwater foundation without any civilian casualties, according to the SBU press center.

SBU Head Vasyl Malyuk personally supervised and coordinated the operation, emphasizing the legitimacy of the target given the bridge’s role as a critical Russian logistical artery supplying enemy troops. “God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always sees its plans through to the end and never repeats itself. We previously struck the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater... Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our harsh response,” Malyuk said.

Shortly after, Russian media Telegram channels reported what they described as a second Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge, citing claims that the Black Sea Fleet and Coast Guard had destroyed a Ukrainian command post. However, these reports remain unconfirmed by Russian-installed authorities or Ukrainian sources, with verification ongoing.

The Telegram channel Crimea — Land of Partisan Glory reported that as of 3:30 p.m. local time, no one had been allowed onto the Crimean Bridge for 40 minutes, and cars were being turned away. Despite this, the Russian-installed authorities claimed on official channels that the bridge was operating normally. Only at 3:23 p.m. did they report that traffic across the bridge had been blocked.

The Atesh partisan movement said their agents noticed serious mobile internet disruptions in Kerch last night. Meanwhile, in Yevpatoria and Sevastopol, Russians are spreading rumors about a possible Ukrainian landing. They have increased patrols, set up checkpoints, and are checking documents.

Previous attacks on the Crimean Bridge

On October 8, 2022, the Russian-installed authorities reported a fire on the Crimean Bridge in Kerch after an attack.

On May 27, SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk said the Ukrainian Armed Forces had taken “certain measures” at that time but didn’t share details.

On July 17, 2023, explosions were heard again near the Crimean Bridge. The Russian-installed authorities called it an “emergency,” reporting damage to the road surface and two deaths.

The Security Service of Ukraine said they would reveal all details about the Crimean Bridge explosion only after Ukraine wins the war. At the end of July 2023, Malyuk officially confirmed that the Security Service of Ukraine carried out the attack.