The Kerch Bridge is ‘doomed’

The Kerch Bridge that tethers Crimea to Russia is simply a coveted people for reasons some applicable and symbolic. Built aft Russia’s amerciable annexation of the peninsula successful 2014, the span is seen by Ukraine arsenic a yoke that, astatine each costs, indispensable beryllium shed — and destroyed.

Ukrainians archetypal mislaid Crimea erstwhile they won the Euromaidan showdown and deposed their president, Viktor Yanukovych, who galore considered a Russian proxy. In March 2014, with Yanukovych gone, Russia illegally annexed Crimea.

But with Crimea present chopped disconnected from Ukraine, Russia needed a mode to enactment its subject and civilian infrastructure connected the peninsula. A span implicit the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov, was the lone viable option.

Construction began successful 2016. At a outgo of $3.6bn, the 19km (12-mile) span is the longest successful Europe. As with the Crimean annexation, it is considered amerciable nether planetary law.

Regardless, connected May 15, 2018, and with his accustomed bravado, Russian President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the span by driving a motortruck implicit its elephantine span – a elephantine span that makes for a precise ample target, indeed.

The Kerch Bridge became a subject nonsubjective for Ukraine aft Russia invaded successful February 2022. In October of that year, a motortruck weaponry blew a immense spread successful the bridge, besides mounting bid cars connected fire.

Then, connected July 17, 2023, 2 Sea Baby drones built by Ukraine’s SBU information service, each with 850kg (1,874lbs) of explosives, blew up nether the bridge.

And connected June 3, 2025, successful the 3rd and astir caller attack, the SBU mined immoderate of the bridge’s enactment columns with the equivalent of 1,100kg (2,425lbs) of TNT. A Kremlin spokesperson aboriginal said "nothing was damaged".

Last year, an SBU cause identified lone by his telephone sign, Hunter, near nary uncertainty arsenic to Ukraine’s intentions. "The Crimean Bridge is doomed," helium said. Based connected the latest onslaught connected the Kerch Bridge, Ukraine appears precise overmuch intent connected freeing itself from Russia’s would-be stranglehold.