### Ukraine Strikes Kerch Strait Bridge, Accuses Russia of Ongoing Aggression

The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) announced on Tuesday that it had launched a damaging attack on Russia's Kerch Strait Bridge. This critical structure connects Crimea to Russia's Krasnodar Krai region and was targeted just two days after Ukraine's bold drone strikes on Russia's strategic bomber fleet. The SBU detailed the operation, which reportedly took several months to prepare, on its official Telegram channel.

According to the SBU, agents planted explosive devices on the underwater supports of the bridge, causing severe structural damage without any civilian casualties. The first explosive device detonated at 4:44 am, severely impacting the bridge's underwater piers with the equivalent of 1,100 kg of TNT. SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk highlighted that this action followed previous attacks on the bridge in 2022 and 2023.

Meanwhile, the official account of the bridge declared it "temporarily closed" following the explosion. The Russian Defense Ministry and government have yet to respond to these developments.

In a broader context of ongoing conflict, Ukrainian authorities reported that at least seven people were killed and 27 injured in Russian attacks across multiple cities overnight into Tuesday. Ukraine’s air force noted the launch of 112 Russian drones, of which 75 were intercepted or neutralized.

Specific incidents contributed to these casualties: a Russian cluster rocket attack on the city of Sumy resulted in three deaths and 20 injuries, while Russian shelling in the Kharkiv region killed three and injured six. Additionally, one person died and 13 were injured in the southern Kherson region. Other strikes injured five in Chernihiv and five in Odesa.

In his morning address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the ongoing Russian attacks indicate that President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely seeking peace, despite participation in U.S.-brokered talks aimed at ending the three-year-old invasion. Ukrainian and Russian representatives gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday for a second round of direct negotiations to discuss a potential ceasefire and the release of prisoners, among other issues.

However, Russia's demands remain stringent, including a Ukrainian withdrawal from regions that Russia claims, alongside limitations on Ukraine’s military and NATO aspirations. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged no significant progress was made during Monday's talks, while Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, emphasized securing Russian victory.

Zelenskyy concluded that global pressure is essential to compel Putin toward any form of ceasefire, highlighting the daily toll of Russian attacks on Ukrainian life and reinforcing the need for international sanctions and support for Ukraine's defense. As peace efforts continue, Ukraine remains active in its defense, targeting Russian territory with long-range strikes, including an audacious operation against Russian strategic bombers over the weekend.