Ukraine said it targeted the Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula, for the third time since the war began.
Agents from the Security Service of Ukraine, the intelligence agency known as the SBU, have planted mines along the structure under the water that supports the integrity of the bridge over the last several months. The first detonation of the mines occurred at 4:44 a.m. local time, according to the agency.
“The underwater supports of the piers were severely damaged at the bottom level — 1,100 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent contributed to this. In fact, the bridge is in a state of emergency,” the agency said.
The 12-mile bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia has been a primary supply route for Moscow to get supplies to troops fighting in Ukraine.
Ukraine's SBU struck the Crimean/Kerch Bridge.
Statement says they mined the bridge supports, using 1,100 kg of explosives, before detonating at 4:44 am local time, reportedly damaging underwater structures. pic.twitter.com/ki08yOIki7
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) June 3, 2025
Russia’s investigative committee classified the incident as a “terrorist attack,” according to Russian state media, which also reported that the bridge was closed for several hours.
The attack comes two days after Ukraine conducted one of its most sophisticated irregular warfare operations in the war. Over the last 18 months, Ukraine has sneaked drones across the border into Russian territory and activated them once in position behind enemy lines.
The 117 drones involved in the operation struck airfields at multiple Russian bases, damaging or destroying about 40 aircraft, according to Ukraine. The targeted aircraft were what Russian forces have used to carry out repeated bombings of civilian infrastructure across eastern Ukraine.
In October 2022, a truck full of explosives was detonated as it crossed the bridge, causing a fireball to erupt. Less than a year later, Ukraine targeted the bridge’s pillars, using maritime drones.
These surprise attacks are a part of Ukraine’s strategy.
Ukraine is fighting a much larger military that has a larger and more sophisticated arsenal, so it has been attempting one-off surprise operations that catch Russia off guard.
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Tuesday’s attack comes a day after officials from both countries met in Istanbul to discuss a ceasefire, though little progress came from the meeting. The two sides have conducted swaps of prisoners of war, but they have not made progress on resolving the conflict.
Russia is holding out for its maximalist demands despite calls from the international community, including President Donald Trump, to come to a resolution.
