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Ukraine has struck a significant blow to Russia's military infrastructure by damaging the Kerch Bridge and targeting multiple Russian airbases, signalling ongoing tensions and strategic strikes in the conflict. The Kerch Bridge, a critical link between the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and Russia, was severely compromised by a massive underwater explosion that inflicted substantial damage on its pylons, as reported by Ukraine's SBU security service.

In a coordinated effort, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, utilizing 117 unmanned aerial vehicles to strike at least four airbases deep within Russian territory. Among the targeted airfields was the Belaya military airbase in Irkutsk, Siberia. Satellite images provided by Capella Space to Reuters revealed significant destruction, including the remains of several Tu-22 Backfire and Tu-95 bombers.

John Ford from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies confirmed the devastation, indicating that the radar imagery showed the destruction of strategic bombers, which Russia has used to launch missile strikes against Ukraine. Open source intelligence analyst Brady Africk corroborated these findings, albeit noting the need for further imagery to fully assess the extent of the damage. He highlighted the failure of Russian decoy aircraft to mislead Ukrainian drones during the operation.

The latest underwater attack on the Kerch Bridge follows a series of previous strikes, including a truck explosion in October 2022 and an experimental naval drone attack in July 2023. The bridge, a signature project of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been a recurring target due to its logistical importance for Russian forces. Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk of the SBU defended the attack as legitimate, citing the bridge's use by Russian troops.

On the ground, the conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians. A Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy left at least four dead and 25 wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deliberate nature of the attack on civilians. In the Kharkiv region, rocket artillery fire on the village of Chystovodivka resulted in two fatalities and three injuries.

Despite direct peace talks in Istanbul, prospects for ending the conflict remain bleak. Dmitry Medvedev, a key figure in Russia's security council, signalled that the Kremlin's primary objective remains the swift victory and destruction of Ukraine’s government, rather than a genuine peace negotiation. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of manipulating the talks and stalling in an effort to avoid further sanctions while continuing military operations.

The continuation of hostilities and the Russian silence on ceasefire proposals indicate a prolonged and unresolved conflict. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha decried Russia's lack of response to peace initiatives, stating that the delay underscores their intent to continue the war.