The Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry states it has obtained detailed technical documentation about the Crimean Bridge, announcing that comprehensive materials have been received. The ministry described the documentation as describing terrain, road surfaces, bridge supports, anti-landslide structures, entrances and exits, and the overall infrastructure of the complex.
GUR released a 242-page electronic briefing titled “Construction of a Transport Passage Through the Kerch Strait.” Officials assert the materials outline extensive information on the terrain, road and rail elements, bridge supports, landslide prevention measures, access points, and the full network surrounding the facility.
“If the Opportunity Arises”
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly discussed the potential for an attack on the Crimean Bridge. At the end of April, Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, indicated that Kyiv has considered the possibility of targeting the bridge but has not yet executed such a plan. He added that if an opportunity presents itself, it would be pursued.
In May, Viktor Andrusov, an adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Minister, noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have not had a viable launch point to strike the bridge because their position is too distant from the Sea of Azov coast.
The previous day, Dmitry Marchenko, a major general in the Ukrainian armed forces, described the bridge as a primary candidate for potential strikes. He argued that the bridge serves as a critical artery for repositioning reserves, making it a logical objective in any broader operation. He stressed that the existence of such plans is widely understood by both military sides and civilians alike, and that the bridge would be a top target in any scenario.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded by saying that Ukraine’s threats regarding the Crimean Bridge have been noted, but such plans would fail. He asserted that a capable Russian military and ongoing precautions mean there is no basis for alarm, implying that threats do not translate into viable action.
Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, speaking for the Russian presidency, remarked that Kyiv has repeatedly threatened to blow up the Crimean Bridge, yet Russia maintains that Crimea’s security is safeguarded by preventive measures and that Ukrainian rhetoric is nothing new. He acknowledged awareness of such threats and indicated they are taken into account.
Deputy Mikhail Sheremet, a Crimean State Duma member, warned that any suicide-style attack would be met with rapid retaliation and that decision-making centers, including Kyiv, could be targeted. He also cautioned Western nations about potential consequences should they supply Ukraine with requested weapons, underscoring a broader warning to external actors.
Kyiv and the Bridge
The Crimean Bridge links the Kerch and Taman Peninsulas via Tuzla Island and Tuzla Spit. In effect, two parallel structures exist: a road bridge and a rail bridge. The facility began operations in 2019.
Ukraine has raised concerns about the bridge in its lawsuit against Russia for alleged violations of the latest UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Separately, Ukrainian prosecutors have opened criminal cases related to the bridge’s construction and the organization of rail transport along it.
The opening of the bridge was condemned by the United Nations General Assembly for its role in Crimea’s militarization. The United States and the European Union subsequently imposed sanctions on companies involved in its construction.