While many were just starting their day, a bold strike was already unfolding beneath the waves.
Ukraine’s security service (SBU) confirmed it launched a dramatic underwater explosion targeting the crucial bridge linking Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula — a key supply route for the Russian military.
Explosives Below the Surface
According to Ukraine’s SBU, a massive 1,100 kilograms of explosives were used in the operation, detonated early Tuesday morning.
The blast hit the bridge’s underwater pillars — not above, but deep below water level — causing significant structural damage.
Online footage shows clouds of smoke rising in the aftermath, underscoring just how critical and symbolic this bridge remains in the conflict.
A Familiar Target with a Clear Message
SBU chief Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk didn’t hold back in his statement.
“We’ve already hit the Crimean Bridge in 2022 and 2023,” he said, “and today we carried on that tradition — this time from under the water.”
He framed the strike as more than just a military tactic — it was a symbolic declaration.
“No illegal Russian structures belong on Ukrainian territory,” Malyuk continued.
“Crimea is Ukraine, and any signs of occupation will be met with force.”
Moscow Scrambles, No Casualties Reported
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Russian authorities reportedly closed the bridge temporarily.
Fortunately, no casualties have been confirmed so far, according to Ukrainian outlet Ukrainska Pravda.
This latest bridge hit follows a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian airbases over the weekend, hitting targets in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions.
Ukraine appears to be ramping up its tactical and symbolic strikes — a sign that the war is far from cooling off.
A Bridge of Military and Psychological Weight
The Kerch Bridge, spanning 12 miles, is far more than just a road — it’s a lifeline.
For Moscow, it represents not just logistics but legitimacy, connecting Russia to Crimea, the region it annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Damaging the bridge is a direct blow to Russia’s narrative of control.
This isn’t the first time it’s been targeted.
In 2023, Russia intercepted two Ukrainian missiles headed for the same bridge, and tensions have only escalated since.
Peace Talks Fumble as Conflict Intensifies
Ironically, the latest strike came just hours after delegations from Ukraine and Russia held another round of direct peace talks — this time in Turkey, mediated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Despite sharing ideas about a possible settlement, the discussions once again ended without a ceasefire.
While Ukraine has shown some willingness to consider diplomacy, Russia’s demands are sweeping. Moscow wants to keep all territory it currently occupies — including four regions annexed in 2022: Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — even areas it doesn’t fully control.
The so-called Russian “memorandum” also insists that Ukraine withdraw troops from those contested zones.
Kyiv Holds the Line on Territorial Claims
President Volodymyr Zelensky has remained firm: Ukraine does not — and will not — recognize any Russian occupation, including Crimea.
Still, in a more nuanced tone, he’s acknowledged that some territorial compromises might have to be negotiated down the road.
That said, the Ukrainian leadership still insists that Crimea and the rest of the occupied territories belong to Ukraine — no exceptions.
The Road Ahead
This underwater strike is more than just a military operation — it’s a statement.
Ukraine is not letting go of its claims, and Russia isn’t backing down either.
As diplomatic channels stall and the battlefield heats up, the path to peace remains uncertain.
What is clear, though, is that both sides are digging in — and the war is still evolving on both land and sea.