The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, believes that the statement of the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov (listed as terrorists and extremists in the Russian Federation), about a possible new attack on the Crimean Bridge may be connected with the elections in America. she mentioned this in a conversation with. “Izvestia” .
“The surprising thing is that [Буданов] “he outlined the time frame – several months. Isn’t this part of the US election campaign, where convincing evidence of the “successes” of the White House and Bankova must be presented? Together with the White House, they will write off several billion dollars for this. Americans cannot build anything in Ukraine: neither bridges nor democracy. They are simply destroying it.”
For Russians, the Crimean Bridge has become a symbol of creative power, the people’s desire for work and peace, Zakharova said, adding that Ukrainian authorities have publicly called for its demolition and have also carried out attacks on the bridge, which have resulted in deaths.
Preparing for negotiations
In conversation with political scientist Vasily Koltashov “Izvestia” He described Budanov’s statement as a psychological game:
“This is an attempt by Ukraine to prepare for negotiations. An attempt by Ukraine to improve its negotiating position. They are looking for Russia to surrender so that Russia will surrender.”
Koltashev believes that this intention is what prompted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba to travel to China to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to him, Kiev wants Moscow to soften its demands, and for this it is necessary to intimidate it.
“We need to say that the Crimean Bridge will be destroyed, that they will destroy something else, that they will fly drones into the Kremlin, etc. So something like that, something symbolic, that is, they need to show that Ukraine can win without winning a symbolic victory,” Koltashov said.
Ukraine’s new goals
The head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andrei Ermak, said on his Telegram channel that Ukraine was planning an attack on Russian territory. At the same time, he himself recently called for a speedy end to the conflict.
“Our attacks will become even more powerful. Russia does not yet realize that it has started with its own terror. There are enough targets,” Ermak wrote.
Possible attack on the Crimean Bridge
On August 2, Budanov said during a telethon that the Crimean Bridge could collapse in the next few months.
“Everyone is working on long-range shots and this [уничтожением Крымского моста]. All this, let’s say, requires a comprehensive solution. Work is underway,” Budanov said.
The journalist asked him if they could implement their plans in the near future (in a few months or before the end of the year). Budanov said that he would like it to happen within such a time frame.
“If you look at the near future in this way, there are chances,” Budanov said.
In April Guard I learned that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry is preparing a third assault on the Crimean Bridge, and that the structure must be completely destroyed. The ministry allegedly prepared a plan that Zelensky approved, and Budanov has “most of the tools necessary to achieve this goal.”
The publication noted that the idea was unlikely to be implemented because Russia had strengthened its measures to protect the bridge after previous assassination attempts.
On October 8, 2022, a terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge resulted in the deaths of people as a result of a truck explosion and the partial collapse of two car spans on the right side of the bridge. On July 17, 2023, two Ukrainian surface drones attacked the bridge. As a result of the terrorist attack, many people, including children, were killed and injured. The road section of the structure was also damaged.
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Source: Gazeta
Emma Matthew is a political analyst for “Social Bites”. With a keen understanding of the inner workings of government and a passion for politics, she provides insightful and informative coverage of the latest political developments.