Still in the next few months
Ukraine: Will destroy Crimean bridge soon
April 3, 2024, 2:11 p.m
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Two major attacks by Ukraine have so far damaged the Crimean Bridge, but have not permanently destroyed it. According to information from Kiev, this will soon change. It is said that the means for this are available. And that without Taurus cruise missiles from Germany.
A Ukrainian military intelligence official told the Guardian that a third attack on the Crimean bridge was planned. Their destruction was “inevitable,” it was said from Kiev. “We will do it in the first half of 2024,” said the official confidently. The secret service has “most of the means to achieve the goal.”
Ukraine has indeed taken precautions. The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian armed forces was significantly decimated by several attacks. Due to the risk of further attacks, most of the remaining ships are no longer in the area of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian Crimean peninsula.
In the past, Kiev had repeatedly asked Germany for Taurus cruise missiles – especially in order to use them to destroy the Crimean Bridge. But you don’t necessarily need this weapon to achieve your goal. Ukraine now has very long-range drones in the air, and recent hits have hit targets hundreds of kilometers inside Russia. And Kiev has already carried out various successful attacks with sea drones.
Ukraine: No arms deliveries via Crimean bridge
So the resources are theoretically there. It is questionable whether that is enough to destroy the bridge, which is well protected by Russia despite all its naval losses. It is considered one of the most important supply routes for Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
As the domestic secret service in Kiev recently announced, the structure is said to still be damaged from previous attacks. That’s why the Russians would no longer allow freight trains carrying weapons and ammunition to cross the bridge. According to Ukrainian sources, repair work is underway to restore full functionality.
Kiev successfully attacked the structure with sea drones in July 2023. There was also an explosion in October 2022. This attack alone was planned for months, said domestic intelligence chief Wassyl Maljuk in a recent interview with the TV station ICTV. After the action, heads of Western intelligence services said they would take their hats off to employees of the Ukrainian secret service.