On July 17, a sudden explosion rocked the only bridge connecting Russia to annexed Crimea,
halting traffic and sending shockwaves through a region already fraught with tension. The
Kerch Bridge, a vital supply route for the Kremlin's forces in the Ukraine conflict,
had been struck, and the transportation of valuable goods was disrupted. But the
details were shrouded in mystery, the culprit unknown, and the method of attack concealed.
The incident caught on video not only underlined the tensions in the region
but exposed a vulnerability in Russia's strategic infrastructure. A single,
unexpected strike had revealed a chink in the armor, a weak link that could be exploited.
Weeks passed, and the intrigue intensified until the Ukrainian Security Service finally came forth,
admitting to the attack. The revelation, captured in chilling CCTV footage, unveiled a startling new
technological development that Ukraine has had to resort to in lieu of a mighty Navy…
The Official Narrative
In a shocking incident that has further escalated tensions between Russia and Ukraine,
an explosion severely damaged a section of the Kerch Bridge, resulting in civilian
losses. Russian authorities have attributed the strike to two Ukrainian sea drones,
heightening concerns about the ongoing conflict in the region.
The 19-kilometer Kerch Bridge, a vital link between Crimea and mainland Russia,
suffered extensive damage in the attack. According to the Russian National Antiterrorism Committee,
the explosion occurred early on July 17, 2023, with two strikes hitting the bridge
at 3:04am and 3:20am local time. Grey Zone, a widely followed Telegram channel
linked to the Wagner mercenary group, was the first to report the attacks.
A dramatic video posted by the Crimea 24 online news channel depicted a section of
the bridge tilting and hanging precariously, though no part of it had fallen into the water
below. Russian authorities emphasized that while the piers remained intact,
the explosion damaged the decking of a portion of one of the road links.
Rail traffic was able to resume later in the morning, following a temporary six-hour halt.
The responsibility for the attack on the Kerch Bridge has become a central question.
Russian officials swiftly pointed fingers at Ukraine, alleging its involvement in the
destructive act. However, Kyiv did not openly acknowledge responsibility. Natalia Humeniuk,
the spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Southern Command, labeled the
explosions a potential Russian provocation, casting doubt on the official narrative.
Divergent accounts emerged from within Ukraine itself. For one, RBC Ukraine and the Ukrainian
news outlet Ukrainska Pravda contended that the attack was a joint operation planned by
the Security Service of Ukraine, SBU, and the Ukrainian Navy and executed using sea
drones. In turn, SBU spokesperson Artem Degtyarenko offered a cryptic response,
hinting at an eventual revelation of details once Ukraine achieves victory in the ongoing conflict.
The Steel Fist
The bridge spanning the Kerch Strait holds unparalleled significance as a lifeline connecting
Russia's transport network to the Crimean Peninsula, embodying a multifaceted importance
that extends far beyond its physical structure. Anchored in historical and geopolitical contexts,
the bridge assumes a pivotal role in the supply of critical resources and the projection of power.
At its core, the bridge is an essential conduit for the provisioning of vital resources to Crimea,
including fuel, food, and factory goods - a lifeline particularly crucial given
Crimea's strategic importance as the home base of Russia's Black Sea Fleet,
housed in the historic port of Sevastopol. The peninsula's self-sufficiency in resources is
underscored by statements from Industrial Politics Minister Yelena Elekchyan,
asserting that it possesses ample supplies of essential commodities.
Moreover, the bridge has emerged as a linchpin of supply during moments of heightened geopolitical
tension. Following Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine, the bridge swiftly transitioned
into a key supply route for Russian forces. It facilitated the movement of troops and supplies
between Crimea and regions captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, exemplified by the seizure
of territory in the Kherson and Zaporizhia provinces. The bridge's strategic role in
projecting power underscores its importance as a critical asset in times of conflict.
The bridge's strategic significance is further underscored by its status as the
sole direct link between mainland Russia and the Crimean Peninsula,
a region annexed by Moscow in 2014. More than a physical link, it symbolizes Russia's
territorial claim to Crimea and solidifies its connection, both politically and economically.
The bridge's architecture combines a roadway and railway supported by concrete stilts,
culminating in expansive steel arches to accommodate maritime passage.
Additionally, the bridge assumes political significance as a flagship project championed
by President Vladimir Putin himself. His participation in the bridge's inauguration,
marked by a symbolic truck journey across its expanse,
underscores its importance as a national symbol and a manifestation of Russia's capabilities.
Between The Lines
A month later, the SBU revealed exclusive footage to CNN, marking the first time the
Ukrainian Security Service openly took credit for the operation. The video showed the moment when
they utilized an experimental sea drone to launch an attack on Russia's bridge to annexed Crimea,
shedding light on the attack's details and serving as a warning of potential future assaults.
The attack inflicted damage on the bridge's road lanes,
as per Russian authorities. The incident, the second strike on the crucial bridge, highlighted
the challenges in safeguarding Russia's sole independent connection to the Crimean Peninsula.
Inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, it holds symbolic significance
as a representation of his ambition to incorporate Ukraine into Russia permanently.
SBU's head, Vasyl Maliuk, informed that the operation employed a sea drone named
the "Sea Baby," developed over months following the invasion. The Security
Service unveiled images and videos of the "Sea Baby" drone responsible for
the Kerch Bridge incident. The drone, capable of traversing open waters,
is an exclusive creation of the SBU, distinct from private sector involvement.
The Sea Baby drone's video footage revealed its approach and delivery
of explosives to a bridge support pillar. CCTV footage showed the subsequent impacts
on the road and railway sections of the bridge. Maliuk emphasized
that these attacks underscore the threat posed by Ukraine's new drone capabilities.
The strike was the outcome of extensive preparation and collaboration between
the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy. Still, he clarified that despite international
interest in their tactics, Ukraine's partners were not directly involved.
The assault on the Russian naval vessel and oil tanker expanded the scope of Ukraine's
reach in the Black Sea, an area traditionally considered beyond their influence - underlining
the evolving dynamics and challenges in the region's security landscape.
The Weakest Link
The July attack was the second in the bridge's history,
sparking doubts about Russia's ability to safeguard the colossal structure. The bridge
had suffered a previous assault in October 2022 with the detonation of a truck bomb.
Ukraine, lacking a robust navy, has turned to innovative tactics to target vital Russian sites
near the Black Sea. They've embraced sea drones as a means to bolster their capabilities, even
initiating a crowdfunding initiative for what they term the "world's first naval fleet of drones."
Recent events spotlight Ukraine's utilization of drone boats. One such
boat inflicted severe damage on the Russian warship Olenegorsky Gornyak
while docked at the Novorossiysk port. Similar to the Kerch Bridge occurrence,
these attacks encountered minimal resistance. Another incident involved sea drones targeting
the Sig tanker, a vessel crucial for ferrying fuel and military resources between Russia and Syria.
In an intelligence update, Britain's defense ministry asserted that these actions underscore
the growing prominence of Ukrainian drone boat operations in modern naval warfare.
With the potential to exploit vulnerabilities in Russia's sea supply routes, the update concluded
the drones: (QUOTE) "can be turned against the weakest links of Russia's sea supply lanes."
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