UPD: Traffic on the Crimean Bridge was temporarily suspended around 15:23 Moscow time, reported a Telegram channel with operational information about the bridge's operation. Russian pro-military Telegram channels report that an attack by Ukrainian sea drones is being repelled in the bridge area.
The Security Service of Ukraine reported the bombing of the Crimean Bridge underwater. According to the SSU, the structure is now in an emergency state.
It is noted that the operation lasted several months. Special service agents mined the bridge supports, and on June 3 at 4:44 am the first explosive device was activated. The unique operation was planned to avoid civilian casualties.
According to the SSU, 1100 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent severely damaged the underwater support structures.
The head of the SSU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, personally oversaw the operation and coordinated its planning. «God loves the Trinity, and the SSU always sees things through to the end and never repeats itself. Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. Therefore, today we continued this tradition underwater. There is no place for any illegal objects of the Russian Federation on the territory of our state. Therefore, the Crimean Bridge — an absolutely legitimate target, especially considering that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to supply its troops. Crimea — is Ukraine, and any manifestations of occupation will receive our harsh response», — said Maliuk.
RIA «Novosti» reported that traffic on the Crimean Bridge was blocked at 6:07 am on Tuesday. Later, the channel Mash wrote that a Ukrainian drone was shot down by air defense forces over the bridge, and its debris fell on the road. The bridge was opened only after more than three hours. The authorities did not officially report the reasons for the closure.
Ukraine had previously damaged the Crimean Bridge twice. In 2022, a truck driving on the bridge was blown up, leading to the collapse of the roadway and the death of five people. In 2023, the bridge was attacked by a surface drone, damaging two spans and killing two people.