Ukraine hits Kerch Bridge linking Crimean peninsula

Underwater bomb latest attack after drone strike on airbases

- TOM WATLING

Ukraine has targeted a bridge linking Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula in the latest long-range attacks against Moscow.

Ukraine’s security services, the SBU, said yesterday that it had hit the Kerch road and rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula with explosives below the water level.

In a statement, the SBU said it had used 1,100kg of explosives that were detonated early in the morning and damaged underwater pillars of the bridge, which has been a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine.

The official Russian outlet that provides regular status updates on the bridge said its operation had been suspended for about three hours between 4am and 7am local time. It gave no reason for the temporary closure, but said the bridge had reopened and was functioning as normal.