Key Points – Ukraine continues to target the Kerch Strait Bridge, a vital Russian supply artery to Crimea, with a reported third major strike on June 3rd by its SBU using a large underwater explosive device, allegedly damaging bridge pillars.
-This attack follows previous successful strikes in 2022 (truck bomb) and 2023 (naval drones).
-For Ukraine, the 19-kilometer bridge is not only a legitimate military target crucial for disrupting Russian logistics into southern Ukraine but also a potent symbol of Russia’s illegal 2014 annexation of Crimea.
-President Zelenskyy has stated the bridge must be “neutralised.”
Kerch Bridge Attack: A Strategic & Symbolic Blow to Russia in Crimea
Ukraine has once again targeted the Kerch Strait Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, striking a vital artery in Russia’s logistics.
The June 3 assault, reportedly carried out by Ukraine’s security service (SBU), deployed a large underwater explosive device. Ukrainian officials say the bridge’s pillars were seriously damaged by the large blast.
Third Time Ukraine Strikes Key Bridge
While Moscow rushed to continue traffic after short closures, the shock strike shows just how precarious its safety is.
Kyiv’s SBU, taking a bold tone, stated, “We hit the Crimean Bridge twice before, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater,” alleging that the bridge was “effectively in an emergency condition”. This claim cannot be independently verified.
Attack Strikes at Heart of Russian Propaganda Machine
The 19-kilometer bridge connects mainland Russia to Crimea. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula back in 2014, for which it was slammed for violating international law. In 2018 the peninsula was opened to road traffic via the bridge, and rail transport began in 2019.
The bridge is not just a political statement, but a key military asset for Russia, allowing it to transport men, equipment, and supplies into southern Ukraine.
For Ukraine, therefore, the structure is not only a glaring symbol of illegal occupation but a legitimate military target.
Ukraine’s strategy to dismantle the bridge began in earnest in October 2022 with a dramatic truck bomb attack that partially collapsed the roadway and ignited nearby rail tankers.
A second blow followed in July 2023, when explosive-laden naval drones targeted the span, again forcing lengthy repairs.
While Russia’s defences managed to intercept a missile assault in August 2023, Kyiv’s underwater operation this month appears to have caught Moscow off guard.
Strategic Timing
The timing is no accident. The June attack comes days after Ukraine’s “Spider’s Web” drone offensive, which struck deep inside Russian territory, damaging strategic air assets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been blunt: the bridge is a pipeline for Russia’s war effort and must be “neutralised.”
Moscow, meanwhile, has doubled down on fortifications and dismissed Ukraine’s actions as terrorism, but the Kremlin’s indignation cannot obscure the strategic vulnerabilities now laid bare. Each successful strike chips away not only at Russia’s military logistics but also at its narrative of an irrevocably Russian Crimea.
The battle for the bridge is, ultimately, a battle for Crimea itself. Seized after a referendum considered illegitimate by most of the world, Crimea remains central to both Russia’s geopolitical ambitions and Ukraine’s vision of restored sovereignty.
The bridge, as the only direct land link, has become an outsized symbol — and, increasingly, a weak point — in Russia’s grip on the peninsula.
For Ukraine, every blow struck against the Kerch Bridge reverberates far beyond the battlefield. It sends a message: Crimea’s fate is far from settled.
About the Author:
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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