Ukraine is preparing a new operation to destroy the Crimean bridge

The Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) Navy, Vice Admiral Aleksey Neijpapan, has announced that Ukrainian military personnel are preparing a new operation that would allow for the complete destruction of the Crimean bridge. He stated this in an interview with The Observer.

Previous attacks and their impact

The Crimean bridge has previously been attacked twice by Ukraine. The first attack occurred on October 8, 2022, just one day after Vladimir Putin's 70th birthday. As a result of the attack, a truck was detonated, two car lanes collapsed, and a fire broke out on the railway section. The Russian side estimated the damage at over 7 billion rubles, and repair work lasted for 8 months.

The second attack was carried out on July 17, 2023, using unmanned sea boats. This time, the bridge's car lane was damaged again. The head of the Ukrainian Security Service, Vasiliy Malyuk, admitted that he personally planned these attacks. He noted that in the first attack, explosives were specially hidden in a truck, while in the second attack, Sea Baby kamikaze drones capable of carrying 850 kilograms of explosives were used.

Ukraine is preparing for a new attack

Neijpapan emphasized that the previous attacks have caused significant damage to the Crimean bridge, leading to logistical problems for the Russian army. Russian military personnel are unable to transport heavy freight cars across the bridge. This time, Ukraine plans to completely destroy the bridge.

Ukrainian military officials are not disclosing the exact details of the new attack, but the Russian side understands that an operation is being prepared. According to Malyuk, the Crimean bridge is a strategically important object that connects Ukraine's southern territories with Russia, and destroying it would be a significant step towards liberating its territories.

The Crimean bridge – an important transport route for Russia

The Crimean bridge is considered a strategic object that began construction after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. This 19-kilometer-long bridge connects Crimea with Russia and plays a crucial role in supplying military equipment, soldiers, and food to the peninsula. The bridge began construction in 2016 and was officially opened in 2018.

Ukraine aims to deliver a logistical blow to Russia's southern front by destroying this bridge. The Ukrainian leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, has repeatedly emphasized this goal.

How will the new attack affect Russia?

If Ukraine successfully attacks the Crimean bridge, it could seriously damage the supply system of the Russian army. Additionally, the movement capabilities of Russian troops on the peninsula would be restricted. This would allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct operations effectively in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions.

So far, Russian officials have not made any official statements regarding the new attack planned by Ukraine, but Moscow is taking the threat to the Crimean bridge seriously. This could lead to an escalation of military actions in the region in the future.