Ukraine attacks bridge connecting Crimea to Russia with over a thousand kilos of explosives
UKRAINE'S SECURITY SERVICE has said that it hit a bridge connecting Russia to Crimea with more than a tonne of underwater explosives this morning.
The SBU secret service said it had 'conducted a new unique special operation and hit the Crimean Bridge for the third time – this time underwater.'
In footage shared to social media, a massive blast can be seen coming out of the water and debris flying, along with a photo of some damage to the side of the bridge.
The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out a new, unique special operation and struck the Crimean Bridge for the third time — this time underwater!
The operation lasted several months.
@ServiceSsu
agents planted explosives on the supports of this illegal structure. And…
pic.twitter.com/lgu6ANR3K1
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU)
June 3, 2025
The attack targeted the support pillars of the bridge with 1,100kg of a TNT equivalent, which the SBu claims were 'severely damaged'.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 amid political upheaval in Ukraine and has held the territory illegally ever since.
According to Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), the latest operation targeting the Crimean Bridge was the result of 'several months' of planning. Explosives were detonated at 4:44am, with no civilian casualties reported.
Advertisement
Earlier, Russian media confirmed the bridge had been closed but did not provide a reason.
'The underwater supports of the pillars were severely damaged at the bottom level,' the SBU said.
The bridge connects Crimea to the Krasnodar region of Russia.
Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, who oversaw the mission, stated: 'There is no place for any illegal Russian objects on the territory of our state.'
'Therefore, the Crimean bridge is an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops,' he added.
Ukraine has previously struck the bridge in both 2022 and 2023.
A Telegram channel that monitors the structure reported that traffic on the Kerch Bridge resumed at 9am local time, leaving the extent of the damage unclear.
Additional reporting from AFP
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
30 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Nato set to approve new military purchases as part of a defence spending hike
Nato defence ministers are set to approve purchasing targets for stocking up on weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic, as part of a US push to ramp up security spending. The 'capability targets' lay out goals for each of the 32 nations to purchase priority equipment such as air defence systems, long-range missiles, artillery, ammunition, drones and 'strategic enablers' such as air-to-air refuelling, heavy air transport and logistics. Each nation's plan is classified, so details are scarce. 'Today we decide on the capability targets. From there, we will assess the gaps we have, not only to be able to defend ourselves today, but also three, five, seven years from now,' Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte said. 'All these investments have to be financed,' he told reporters before chairing the meeting at Nato's Brussels headquarters. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers a statement ahead of the meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Thursday (Virginia Mayo/AP) US President Donald Trump and his Nato counterparts will meet on June 24-25 to agree to new defence investment goals. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that 'to be an alliance, you've got to be more than flags. You got to be more than conferences. You need to keep combat ready capabilities'. Spurred on by their own security concerns, European allies and Canada have already been ramping up military spending, including arms and ammunition purchases, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. At the same time, some allies balk at US demands to invest 5% of their gross domestic product in defence – 3.5% on core military spending and 1.5% on the roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports needed to deploy armies more quickly – when they have already struggled to grow their budgets to 2% of GDP. The new targets are assigned by Nato based on a blueprint agreed upon in 2023 – the military organisation's biggest planning shake-up since the Cold War — to defend its territory from an attack by Russia or another major adversary. Under those plans, Nato would aim to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days, although experts suggest the allies would struggle to muster those kinds of numbers. The member countries are assigned roles in defending Nato territory across three major zones – the high north and Atlantic area, a zone north of the Alps, and another in southern Europe. Are we going to gather here again and say 'OK, we failed a bit', and then maybe we start learning Russian? Nato planners believe that the targets must be met within five to 10 years, given the speed at which Russia is building its armed forces now, and which would accelerate were any peace agreement reached to end its war on Ukraine. Some fear Russia might be ready to strike at a Nato country even sooner, especially if Western sanctions are eased and Europe has not prepared. 'Are we going to gather here again and say 'OK, we failed a bit', and then maybe we start learning Russian?' Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said. Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson also warned that while Russia is bogged down in Ukraine right now, things could quickly change. 'We also know after an armistice or a peace agreement, of course, Russia is going to allocate more forces closer to our vicinity. Therefore, it's extremely important that the alliance use these couple of years now when Russia is still limited by its force posture in and around Ukraine,' Mr Jonson said. If the targets are respected, the member countries will need to spend at least 3% of GDP on defence. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said his country calculates in the medium term that 'we should spend 3.5% at least on defence, which in the Netherlands means an additional 16 to 19 billion euro (£13-16 billion) addition to our current budget.' The Netherlands is likely to buy more tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and long-range missile systems, including US-made Patriots that can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles.


RTÉ News
31 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Putin plans to retaliate after Ukraine drone strikes
Siobhán O'Grady, Ukraine Bureau Chief with The Washington Post, discusses Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning that he will respond to Ukraine's attack on Russian airfields.


Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Russian strike kills five, including toddler, hours after Trump calls Putin
At least five people, including a one-year-old child, were killed in a Russian drone strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Pryluky overnight, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. The attack came just hours after US President Donald Trump spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Mr Trump, Mr Putin 'very strongly' said that Russia will retaliate for Ukraine's weekend drone attacks on Russian military airfields. Firefighters put out a fire following Russia's drone attack in the Pryluky, Chernihiv region, Ukraine, on Thursday (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Six more people were wounded in the attack and are being treated in hospital, Mr Chaus said. According to him, six Shahed-type drones struck residential areas of Pryluky early on Thursday morning, causing severe damage to residential buildings. Hours later, 17 people were wounded in a Russian drone strike on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv early on Thursday, including children, a pregnant woman, and a 93-year-old woman, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At around 1.05am, Shahed-type drones struck two apartment buildings in the city's Slobidskyi district, causing fires and destroying several private vehicles. 'By launching attacks while people sleep in their homes, the enemy once again confirms its tactic of insidious terror,' Mr Syniehubov wrote on Telegram.