Ukraine says it damaged Kerch Bridge in underwater operation

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims it has successfully carried out a special operation that damaged the Kerch Bridge, a key link between mainland Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

In a statement on Tuesday, the SBU said the operation had been in preparation for several months and involved placing explosives equivalent to 1,100 kilograms of TNT on the bridge’s underwater supports.

The Ukrainian authorities said the blast did not result in any civilian casualties, but described the bridge as being in a “state of emergency” following the explosion.

Russian state media confirmed that traffic on the bridge was suspended for three hours on Tuesday morning but said it was later reopened. The extent of the damage remains unclear.

Speaking about the operation, SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said he had personally overseen the mission.

"God loves the Trinity, and the Security Service always carries through with its plans," he said. "We blew up the Crimean Bridge in 2022 and 2023. Today we continued this tradition - underwater."

The Kerch Bridge, also known as the Crimean Bridge, has been a frequent target since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It serves as a strategic and symbolic link, enabling the movement of military supplies and personnel to and from Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.