In a mysterious message, Ukrainian military intelligence hinted at new attacks against Putin’s prestigious Crimean bridge project.
- Ukrainian military intelligence proposes new attacks against the Kerch Bridge, an important project for Russia linking the country to occupied Crimea.
- Attacks on the bridge previously occurred in October 2022 and July 2023, and may have been carried out by Ukrainian special forces.
- A video on Telegram was interpreted as a hint of new attacks, with the text “Autumn winds in Crimea and completely unnecessary construction. To be continued.”
- The expert believes that it is uncertain whether attacking the bridge is a good strategy for Ukraine, because it gives Russia an excuse to do the same and may exacerbate the situation.
In October 2022 and July 2023, attacks were carried out on the bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge – most likely carried out by Ukrainian special forces.
The Crimean Bridge is a 19-kilometre-long bridge that connects Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The bridge is important for the Russians, both militarily and civilly.
Ukrainian military intelligence published a video cable Which is interpreted as a hint of new attacks. There is a video showing the bridge, with the text: “Autumn winds in Crimea and completely unnecessary construction. To be continued.”
The image was also enlarged on a piece of paper with the words “Artan” written on it, the name of a Ukrainian special force.
– It could be a signal for future attacks, he writes Ukrainskaya Pravda.
– Intelligence indicates that they will destroy the Crimean Bridge ukraine.ru.
If the Ukrainians themselves filmed the video, it shows that they can reach the Kerch Bridge, despite the fact that the entire Crimean peninsula is occupied by Russia.
The news agency reported that traffic over the bridge was closed on Wednesday evening Interfax. They reported that the same thing also happened on Monday and Tuesday. The bridge has a road section and a railway section.
Peter Viggo Jacobsen of the Danish Defense Academy is not sure how wise it would be for the Ukrainians to attack the Kerch Bridge:
– I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more attacks, but if it’s a good strategy to go after bridges used both civilian and military… When Ukraine does that, they also give Russia an excuse to do the same, he says. The expert.
-If we imagine that Ukraine is invading the terrain towards Crimea and also regaining Crimea, then it can be said that destroying the bridge is a stupid idea. At least if you want the Russian people, who will then flee to Russia, to have the opportunity to cross the bridge.
Peter Viggo Jacobsen points out that Ukraine did not destroy the bridges in Kherson – thus enabling the Russians to retreat, so that there was no fighting in the city of Kherson.
– Perhaps they can reach a “gentleman’s agreement” that if Russia refrains from bombing electricity and heating supplies, Ukraine will refrain from destroying the Kerch Bridge.
The opposing argument was that if Russia was going to destroy the infrastructure anyway, it couldn’t get any worse. But I think it makes sense to leave the bridge alone.
The bridge has great symbolic and strategic value for Putin and the Kremlin. It should be physical evidence that Russia and Ukrainian Crimea are connected to each other. With a length of 18 kilometers, it is the longest in Europe. Russian media call the bridge “the building of the century.” Construction began in 2015, a year after Russia annexed Crimea. Vladimir Putin himself was in charge of the opening.
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