### Ukraine's Security Service Strikes Crimean Bridge Once Again

Ukraine’s security service, known as the SBU, has announced a successful operation targeting the bridge linking Russia with the occupied Crimean Peninsula. According to a post on the SBU's Telegram account, the operation involved setting off explosives underwater and marks the third attack on the structure.

The SBU revealed that its agents planted explosives on the piers of the road-and-rail bridge, known as the Kerch Bridge, and detonated them at exactly 4.44 a.m. on Tuesday. The painstaking effort took several months and employed 1,100 kilograms of explosives, causing severe damage to the underwater pillars supporting the bridge.

The attack follows a daring air raid by the SBU on Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable strategic bombers just a few days prior. The security agency touted this new operation as another special effort, showcasing their capability to carry out complex missions. Despite the severity of the attack, Russian officials have yet to respond to Ukraine's claims.

Earlier on Tuesday, the bridge operator had taken to Telegram to announce a temporary suspension of traffic on the bridge. However, by 9 a.m. local time, normal traffic operations were said to have resumed.

Constructed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, the 12-mile bridge serves as a vital supply line for Moscow's military efforts in Ukraine and stands as a personal initiative of President Vladimir Putin. The bridge is a critical symbol of his endeavor to integrate the Ukrainian peninsula into Russian territory.

Tuesday's strike is the third instance of Ukraine targeting the Crimean Bridge since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The first significant attack occurred in October 2022 when a fuel truck explosion set a portion of the bridge ablaze. In July 2023, the SBU claimed responsibility for another attack using an experimental sea drone. On both occasions, Russia quickly moved to repair the damaged sections.

"God loves the Trinity, and the SBU always sees things through to the end and never does the same thing twice. We previously struck the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition, this time underwater," said Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU.