Ukraine Strikes Crimean Bridge with Underwater Bombs
Blowing up part of a bridge in the dark, underwater, and under enemy control is not something out of an action movie—it just happened. Early morning on June 3, 2025, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) pulled off its most daring operation yet against the massive Crimean Bridge, using explosives in one of the most complicated sabotage missions of the war so far. The bridge, spanning 19 kilometers, links Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula and has been a critical artery for Russian military and supply traffic since its construction after 2014.
This latest hit came at 4:44 AM local time, as the SBU targeted the underwater supports of a bridge pillar. Agents planted 1,100 kilograms of explosives in TNT equivalent at the lower levels of the underwater structure. When the bombs exploded, the foundation took a serious blow, and Ukrainian officials quickly described the bridge as being in 'an emergency state.' All traffic across the bridge was stopped, and Russian agencies sealed off the area by 3 PM.
Months of Preparation, High-Tech Sabotage
This wasn't the first time the bridge faced an attack, but it was easily the most intricate. Ukrainian operatives had spent months preparing. They scoured satellite images, ran countless analyses with sonar, and mapped the underwater supports using divers and technology. The operation almost certainly used underwater drones, likely the Marichka-class models, able to carry bulky explosives right to the base undetected.
While Russian patrols were presumably on high alert, combat divers using closed-circuit rebreathers slipped in silently, avoiding the tell-tale bubbles that most gear leaves behind. Navigation was a mix of old-school nerve and new tech: divers relied on sonar pingers and underwater GPS trackers to get exactly where they needed to go—right under the bridge's massive structure.
- Explosives capacity: 1,100 kg TNT equivalent
- Bridge span: 19 kilometers, standing 35 meters above water
- Times targeted: October 2022, July 2023, and now June 2025
- Key tech: Underwater drones, sonar mapping, satellite imagery, closed-circuit rebreathers
Russian emergency teams rushed in after the explosion, but there was little hope of reopening the supply route before a full assessment. Luckily, no civilians were reported hurt.
The Kerch Strait Bridge isn't just a bridge—it's a lifeline for moving troops, weapons, and supplies between Russia and Crimea. Ukrainian strikes have repeatedly aimed to squeeze Russian logistics, and attacks like this one send a loud message right into the heart of the Kremlin’s war plans. It’s clear this bridge will stay in the crosshairs as long as the conflict continues.