**Ukraine Claims Responsibility for Third Strike on Crimea Bridge**

In a significant escalation, Ukraine announced on Tuesday that it had struck the Crimean bridge for a third time. The Security Service of Ukraine (S.B.U.) stated that explosives had been strategically placed on support structures beneath the water over several months.

The recent explosion occurred at 4:44 a.m. and, according to the S.B.U., caused severe damage to the underwater support pillars of the bridge. The detonation involved the equivalent of 1,100 kg of TNT, rendering the bridge in an emergency condition. A video purporting to show the explosion was released by the S.B.U.

This attack followed closely on the heels of another ambitious operation carried out by Ukraine just two days earlier, which targeted Russia's strategic bombing fleet deep within Russian territory.

RIA Novosti, a state-run Russian news outlet, reported that the bridge was temporarily closed for several hours on Tuesday. However, traffic monitoring apps indicated that the bridge had reopened by midday.

The 12-mile Kerch Strait Bridge holds substantial strategic importance as it connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, serving as a critical supply route for Russian forces in southern Ukraine. Additionally, the bridge is of symbolic significance to Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, who attended its opening ceremony in 2018.

Previous attacks on the bridge include an October 2022 truck bomb that caused significant damage by rupturing fuel tanks on a passing train, resulting in a large fireball. Another attack, using maritime drones, targeted the support pillars in July. Despite sustained efforts by the Russians to repair the structure and bolster its defenses, the bridge remains a focal point of conflict.

Marc Santora has been reporting from Ukraine since the war began, bringing firsthand insights into these devastating developments.