Ukraine Strikes Crimea’s Kerch Bridge With Underwater Explosives, Says Security Service

Tuesday June 3, 2025|

Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, has claimed responsibility for an overnight strike on the Kerch Bridge linking mainland Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula, using underwater explosives in a carefully planned operation.

In a post shared on X, the agency also released video footage showing a blast at the site of the bridge, which has previously been targeted in 2022 and 2023.

The SBU described the attack as the culmination of “several months” of planning and confirmed that the mines were detonated at 4:44am local time on Tuesday, with no civilian casualties reported.

“The underwater supports of the pillars were severely damaged at the bottom level,” the agency stated.

Russian media had earlier reported that the bridge had been closed but offered no explanation. By 9am local time, however, traffic was said to have resumed, leaving the full extent of the damage unclear.

Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, who led the operation, defended the strike, stating: “There is no place for any illegal Russian objects on the territory of our state.”

“Therefore, the Crimean bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops,” he added.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 during political unrest in Ukraine and continues to occupy the territory in defiance of international law.