Ukraine is preparing a third operation targeting the Crimean Bridge, with hopes of delivering a final, crippling blow to one of Russia’s most strategically important supply routes.
The news was confirmed by Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, in an interview with The Guardian published March 10.
“The Russians understand that we are actively discussing the third operation,” Neizhpapa said. “There is a saying: ‘Good things come in threes.’”
The Crimean Bridge, which connects mainland Russia to occupied Crimea, has already suffered two major attacks—one in October 2022, and another in July 2023—that caused structural damage and disrupted both road and rail traffic.
Two Previous Attacks
The first attack on October 8, 2022, involved a powerful explosion that caused the collapse of two roadway spans and ignited a fuel train on the bridge. Russian authorities assessed the damage at more than 7 billion rubles, and repairs stretched over eight months.
The second strike, on July 17, 2023, used unmanned surface drones to destroy another section of the bridge, further complicating Russian efforts to transport military equipment into southern Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) chief Vasyl Maliuk, both attacks were Ukrainian operations.
He disclosed that the first explosion came from a truck carrying 21 tons of hexogen hidden in plastic film rolls, designed to bypass Russian scanners. The second attack featured Sea Baby drones, carrying 850 kg of explosives each, engineered to evade radar detection.
The Bridge’s Strategic Importance
Built by a company linked to Russian oligarch Arkady Rotenberg, the 19-kilometer-long Crimean Bridge has been a vital military and logistical asset for Russia since it opened in 2018. It served as a key route for moving troops and equipment before and after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukrainian leaders have long labeled the bridge a legitimate military target, citing its role in sustaining Russia’s occupation of southern Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized the bridge’s strategic value, and military officials have signaled that full destruction remains an objective.
