Russia's Bridge to Crimea Heavily Damaged...Again...by Ukrainian Attack

streiff reporting for RedState 

Ukraine claimed responsibility for an attack early Monday that caused significant damage to the Kerch Strait Bridge linking Russia’s Taman Peninsula in Krasnodar Krai Oblast with occupied Crimea.

Ukraine’s minister for digital transformation later said that the bridge was struck by “naval drones.”

“Today the Crimean bridge was blown up by naval drones,” Mykhailo Fedorov said on Telegram on Monday “It is better to act, not to reveal photos of our own production facilities and to supply the defense forces,” Fedorov said.

Two people were killed and their daughter wounded in the attack, according to Russian-appointed officials.

The attack was carried out by Unmanned Surface Vehicles—the first hit at around 3 a.m., followed by a second explosion at about 3:20 a.m.

According to unrelated imagery, the attacks seem to have been launched from Snake Island.

It was preceded by a significant Ukrainian UAV/USV attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet home port of Sevastopol, an event that has happened several times; see Ukraine Carries out Extensive Drone Attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Sevastopol Homeport.

The Damage

After the attack, photography indicates a significant level of damage. One support pier and the attached roadway were destroyed.

According to Russia’s Vice-Prime Minister, as reported in Russian media, one vehicle lane cannot be repaired.

Traffic is one way with the direction of flow rotated.

The Impact

The immediate impact was on Russian civilian traffic trying to reach, or leave, Crimea. Russian authorities requested that civilian traffic use the “land bridge” to give priority to Russian military traffic.

This is the second major attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge. On October 8, 2022, the entire bridge was temporarily disabled by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device.

Why It Matters

One of the unique features of the war in Ukraine is the constrained supply routes available to the Russian military, particularly those available to supply Russian forces and civilians in Occupied Kherson and Occupied Crimea. Supplies can come by the so-called “land bridge” from Rostov-on-Don, paralleling the Azov Sea. They can come across the Kerch Strait Bridge. Or they can come by sea into underdeveloped ports in Crimea. This attack has nearly shut down one-third of those routes.

After the last attack, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu distributed this infographic depicting how Russia now had an ironclad defensive shield around the Krerch Strait Bridge.

It is now apparent that very little was done to increase the bridge’s defenses.

Ukraine will have weapons systems that can hit the bridge in the next three to four months. When that happens, the ability of the Russians to supply and defend Occupied Crimea and Occupied Kherson becomes problematic.