Ukraine Strikes Back: Underwater Attack on Crimean Bridge and Energy Infrastructure Escalates Tensions

Dramatic Underwater Blast Hits Crimean Bridge

The attack on Russian strategic aviation bases will be included in all training manuals for specialists in this field. But that was not the end of the events. On Tuesday morning, the SBU (which claimed responsibility) organized an underwater explosion at the pile foundations of the Crimean Bridge near the shipping channel. This is where ships pass from the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea and back.

A video of the explosion was published immediately. The SBU stated that the ammunition had a power of more than a ton. Our sources in the navy estimated it at 40-50 kg of marine mixture.

Reports of divers’ involvement are operational encryption. This time, an unidentified underwater device, something like a “Marichka,” was used. Ukrainian bloggers demonstrated a whole series of such promising drones on social media.

The device hit the railing of the support, which was installed specifically for such cases, and the explosion was important for propaganda purposes. Shortly thereafter, unmanned boats appeared on the bridge. In response to the Ukrainian video (how the SBU gained access to the Crimean Bridge’s surveillance cameras is a question for the FSB), the Russian Armed Forces published a video of the destruction of one boat by a “Lancet.”

In general, traffic on the bridge resumed without damage to the structure. But the day before, the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck the energy infrastructure of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The strike was successful: according to the authorities, 600,000 residents were left without power.

If we add the blowing up of railway bridges as a separate operation, the Kremlin has received a whole “series” of very high-profile attacks with major consequences and modest media demonstrations, coupled with a violation of the moratorium on strikes against energy facilities. They are timed to coincide with the negotiations in Istanbul and Yermak’s visit to Washington following their results.

Putin was, as it were, invited to escalate the situation. The strike on the Crimean bridge and strategic aviation, together with the rejection of the moratorium, are strong motives for Moscow. However, in a couple of weeks, all this will disappear from the agenda and the only real arbiter will remain – the front.

Before the first round of negotiations in Istanbul, Zelensky tried in a similar way to provoke Putin into dialogue, repeatedly stating that Putin was afraid of a personal meeting with him and therefore would not visit Erdogan. Now the show is being repeated with military means. We will wait for Putin’s reaction this week.

Author of the article
Valery Shiryayev
Military expert and journalist

Add a comment

  1. Taha

    This article paints a vivid picture of how the conflict is not only evolving on the battlefield but also within the realms of strategy and propaganda. It’s striking how both sides use these actions to send messages that go beyond immediate military impact, trying to influence negotiations and political decisions. The use of underwater drones and unmanned boats adds a new layer to the warfare tactics, showing just how technology is changing the game. It’s worrying to think about the continued escalation and what this means for the people living in the affected regions, especially with power outages hitting so many civilians. The emphasis on timing these attacks alongside diplomatic efforts highlights the complex and tense nature of this conflict. I’m curious and anxious to see how the leadership on both sides responds in the coming days, and whether any genuine progress towards de-escalation can be made or if this spiral of provocations will just keep growing.

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  2. Arlene

    This whole situation feels like a dangerous game of chess where every move risks dragging everyone deeper into chaos. The use of underwater drones and unmanned boats shows how warfare keeps evolving in unpredictable ways, but at what cost to innocent people caught in the middle? 😕 It’s hard not to wonder if these dramatic actions are really pushing any closer to peace or just making the negotiations a desperate last act.

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  3. Bilal

    If this situation were a movie, it would be one of those big-budget action flicks where everyone is trying to outdo each other with increasingly dramatic stunts, except here the special effects are just real-life explosions and cyber cat-and-mouse games. The bit about the underwater drone named Marichka sounds like something straight out of a spy novel—next thing you know, they’ll be having underwater dance battles over the bridge. Also, can someone explain how the SBU hacked the Crimean Bridge cameras without FSB noticing? That’s either some serious tech wizardry or the FSB just took a really long coffee break.

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  4. Ashwin

    So basically, a blockbuster action movie is playing out in real life, but with drones named Marichka and a bridge that’s apparently as tough as steel but somehow still the star of the show. Can’t wait for the sequel where everyone pretends the negotiations actually matter while the real drama unfolds on the front lines 🤷‍♂️

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  5. Laniah

    This analysis really captures the complexity of the situation with a lot of important details. It’s interesting to see how modern warfare now heavily involves drones and underwater devices, which feels like a new chapter in military tactics 🤖🌊. The timing of these attacks with diplomatic negotiations clearly shows how intertwined politics and military actions are, making the situation even more unpredictable. The resilience shown by maintaining traffic on the Crimean Bridge despite the attacks also highlights how critical infrastructure plays a huge role in both strategy and morale 🚢⚡. Watching how all these pieces move together is both fascinating and quite concerning for the region’s stability.

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